Table 3 Biochar utilization for environmental contaminant removal

COD

water/laboratory conditions

 ~ 70 mg g⁻¹

 ~ 0.058 L g⁻¹

Wood derived biochar

1000 °C

[160]

Ammonium nitrogen

water/laboratory conditions

3.4 mg g⁻¹

0.017 L g⁻¹

Rice husk biochar

Cacao shell and corn biochar

700 °C

300–350 °C

[161, 162]

44.64 ± 0.602 mg g⁻¹

0.032 L g⁻¹

Wood biochar

600 °C

[21]

39.8 ± 0.540 mg g⁻¹

0.028 L g⁻¹

Rice husk biochar

600 °C

[21]

0.753 mg g⁻¹

0.025 L g⁻¹

Corn straw biochar

< 700 °C

[163]

1.003 mg g⁻¹

0.033 L g⁻¹

Peanut shell biochar

< 700 °C

[163]

5.3 mg g⁻¹

0.007 L g⁻¹

Mixed hardwood biochar

300 °C

[164]

17.6 mg g⁻¹

0.074 L g⁻¹

Plant (Thaliadealbata) biomass derived biochar

700 °C

[165]

5.6 mg g⁻¹

0.062 L g⁻¹

Pineapple peel biochar

300 °C

[166]

4.71 mg g⁻¹

0.069 L g⁻¹

Orange peel biochar

300 °C

[166]

2.65 mg g⁻¹

0.034 L g⁻¹

Pitaya peel biochar

400 °C

[166]

Antibiotics

 Tylosin

Soil/laboratory

conditions

–

–

Pulpgrade hardwood and softwood chips biochar

850 and 900 °C

[167]

 Sulfamethazine

Water/laboratory conditions

33.81 mg g⁻¹

1.738 L g⁻¹

Tea waste biochar

700 °C

Steam activated

[135]

Water/laboratory conditions

37.7 mg g⁻¹

1.809 L g⁻¹

Invasive plant biochar

700 °C

Steam activated

[168]

 Tetracycline

Water/laboratory conditions

14.3 mg g⁻¹

0.152 L g⁻¹

Rice husk biochar

450–500 °C

[169]

Water/laboratory conditions

101 mg g⁻¹

3.061 L g⁻¹

Pinewood sawdust biochar

700 °C

Pyrolyzed with 1:5, air to NO₂

[170]

Water/laboratory conditions

2.5 mg g⁻¹

0.138 L g⁻¹

Bamboo sawdust biochar

300 °C

[171]

Water/laboratory conditions

4.4 mg g⁻¹

0.267 L g⁻¹

Bamboo sawdust biochar

450 °C

[171]

Water/laboratory conditions

147.9 mg g⁻¹

1.623 L g⁻¹

Spirulina sp. (microalgae) biochar

750 °C

[172]

 Sulfamethoxazole

Real wastewater solution

27.7 mg g⁻¹

2.815 L g⁻¹

Ball milled hickory chips biochar

450 °C

[173]

 Sulfadiazine

Water/laboratory conditions

123.0 mg g⁻¹

4.415 L g⁻¹

Pinewood sawdust biochar

700 °C

Pyrolyzed with 1:5, air to NO₂

[170]

 Sulfapyridine

Real wastewater solution

58.6 mg g⁻¹

7.600 L g⁻¹

Ball milled hickory chips biochar

450 °C

[173]

Hormones

 Estrone

Soil/laboratory conditions

0.035 mg g⁻¹

0.097 L g⁻¹

Pine saw dust biochar

700 °C

Steam activated

[136]

 Oestradiol

Soil/laboratory

conditions

0.026 mg g⁻¹

0.041 L g⁻¹

Pine saw dust biochar

700 °C

Steam activated

[136]

Greenhouse Gases

 Methane

0.05–0.9 mol kg⁻¹

–

–

–

Wood biochar

Wheat straw biochar

350–600 °C

350–550 °C

[174, 175]

 Carbon dioxide

–

–

–

Wheat straw biochar

350–550 °C

[175]

–

–

–

Mixed sawdust

biochar

500 °C

[176]

 Nitrous oxide

–

–

–

Rice husk biochar

450 °C

[177]

–

–

–

Hardwood

450–500 °C

[178]

Soil/laboratory conditions

–

–

Pine sawdust biochar

300 and 550 °C

[179]

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)

 Benzene

Laboratory conditions

54.6 mg g⁻¹

–

Neem biochar

550 °C

[180]

 Toluene

Laboratory conditions

65.5 mg g⁻¹

–

Neem biochar

550 °C

[180]

 Methyl chloride

Laboratory conditions

39.6 mg g⁻¹

–

Neem biochar

550 °C

[180]

 Xylene

Laboratory conditions

60.2 mg g⁻¹

–

Neem biochar

550 °C

[180]

 Chloroform

Laboratory conditions

30.8 mg g⁻¹

–

Neem biochar

550 °C

[180]

 Carbon tetrachloride

Laboratory conditions

41.0 mg g⁻¹

–

Neem biochar

550 °C

[180]