Biochar-based nano-composites for the decontamination of wastewater: A review

Published Date
Bioresource Technology
July 2016, Vol.212:318–333, doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2016.04.093

Review

• Author 

• Xiao-fei Tan ^a,b
• Yun-guo Liu ^a,b,,,
• Yan-ling Gu ^a,b
• Yan Xu ^a,b
• Guang-ming Zeng ^a,b
• Xin-jiang Hu ^a,b,e
• Shao-bo Liu ^c,d
• Xin Wang ^f
• Si-mian Liu ^a,b
• Jiang Li ^a,b

• aCollege of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, PR China
• bKey Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Hunan University), Ministry of Education, Changsha 410082, PR China
• cSchool of Architecture and Art, Central South University, Changsha 410082, PR China
• dSchool of Metallurgy and Environment, Central South University, Changsha 410083, PR China
• eCollege of Environmental Science and Engineering Research, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, PR China
• fCollege of Resources and Environmental Science, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410082, PR China

Received 26 February 2016. Revised 18 April 2016. Accepted 19 April 2016. Available online 22 April 2016. 

Highlights

• •
  Recent studies on synthesis of biochar-based nano-composites are reviewed.
• •
  Biochar-based nano-composites combine the advantages of biochar with nano-materials.
• •
  Nano-particles improve biochar’s physicochemical properties and serve as active sites.
• •
  Multiple mechanisms are involved in contaminants removal.
• •
  Knowledge gaps in the future development should be studied.

Abstract

Synthesizing biochar-based nano-composites can obtain new composites and combine the advantages of biochar with nano-materials. The resulting composites usually exhibit great improvement in functional groups, pore properties, surface active sites, catalytic degradation ability and easy to separation. These composites have excellent abilities to adsorb a range of contaminants from aqueous solutions. Particularly, catalytic material-coated biochar can exert simultaneous adsorption and catalytic degradation function for organic contaminants removal. Synthesizing biochar-based nano-composites has become an important practice for expanding the environmental applications of biochar and nanotechnology. This paper aims to review and summarize the various synthesis techniques for biochar-based nano-composites and their effects on the decontamination of wastewater. The characteristic and advantages of existing synthesis methods are summarized and discussed. Application of biochar-based nano-composites for different contaminants removal and the underlying mechanisms are reviewed. Furthermore, knowledge gaps that exist in the fabrication and application of biochar-based nano-composites are also identified.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

• Biochar
• Nano-composites
• Synthesis
• Wastewater
• Adsorption
• Catalytic degradation

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• ⁎ 
  Corresponding author at: College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, PR China.

© 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

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