Abstract
Biochar simply is the material produced when biomass undergoes any chemical processes under the conditions of pyrolysis. The variety of biomasses, including wood waste, agricultural crop leftover, organic waste, animal manure, and forestry residues, have been considered as raw material to produce biochar. Biochar is widely used for generation of heat and power and an addition to soils, in which it serves as a fertilizer and carbon sequestration agent. Also in the form of being activated, it finds significant role for various adsorption applications. The most beneficial use of a given char depends on its physical and chemical characteristics, even though the relationship of char properties to these applications is not well defined. Various widely used modern analytical techniques, which are applicable and crucial for biochar characterization, have been reviewed in the present work, such as solid state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-rays photoelectron spectroscopy, X-rays diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, near edge X-rays absorption fine structure spectroscopy, and gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy. Utilization of these modern techniques provides the quantitative as well as qualitative information, i.e., determining the sizes, shapes, and physicochemical characteristics of biochar, which is reliable to track changes in the carbon arrangement over reaction time and temperature, and will be useful for efficient production of biochar and application. It provides the useful information for the researchers in this area and is beneficial not only for the effective biochar production, but also for potential utilization/application, and not only for environment but also for agriculture.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Abbreviations
- Ag:
-
Silver
- As:
-
Arsenic
- BPB:
-
Birnessite-modified pine biochar
- C:
-
Carbon
- Cd:
-
Cadmium
- Co:
-
Cobalt
- CO2 :
-
Carbon dioxide
- CP:
-
Cross polarization
- Cr6+ :
-
Chromium VI
- CT:
-
Computerized tomography
- Cu:
-
Copper
- DAWC:
-
Digested dairy waste biochar
- DP:
-
Direct polarization
- DSTC:
-
Digested sugar beet tailing biochar
- DWSBC:
-
Digested whole sugar beet biochar
- FTIRS:
-
Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy
- GC-MS:
-
Gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy
- H:
-
Hydrogen
- K:
-
Potassium
- MgEC:
-
Magnesium enrich biochar
- MPB:
-
Manganese oxide-modified pine biochar
- N:
-
Nitrogen
- NEXAFS:
-
Near edge X-rays absorption fine structure spectroscopy
- Ni:
-
Nickle
- NMRS:
-
Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy
- NO3 − :
-
Nitrates
- O:
-
Oxygen
- P:
-
Phosphorus
- PAHs:
-
Poly-aromatic hydrocarbons
- Pb:
-
Lead
- SAXS:
-
Small angle X-rays scattering
- Sb:
-
Antimony
- SEM:
-
Scanning electron microscopy
- TEM:
-
Transmission electron microscopy
- TGA:
-
Thermogravimetric analysis
- VM:
-
Volatile matter
- XPS:
-
X-rays photoelectron spectroscopy
- XRD:
-
X-rays diffraction
- Zn:
-
Zinc
- ZVI:
-
Zerovalent iron
References
Ahmad M, Usman AR, Lee SS et al (2012) Eggshell and coral wastes as low cost sorbents for the removal of Pb2+, Cd2+ and Cu2+ from aqueous solutions. J Ind Eng Chem 18:198–204. doi:10.1016/j.jiec.2011.11.013
Ahmad M, Rajapaksha AU, Lim JE et al (2014) Biochar as a sorbent for contaminant management in soil and water: a review. Chemosphere 99:19–23. doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2013.10.071
Alper K, Tekin K, Karagöz S (2014) Pyrolysis of agricultural residues for bio-oil production. Clean Technol Environ Policy 17:211–223. doi:10.1007/s10098-014-0778-8
Beesley L, Moreno-Jiménez E, Gomez-Eyles JL et al (2011) A review of biochars’ potential role in the remediation, revegetation and restoration of contaminated soils. Environ Pollut 159:3269–3282. doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2011.07.023
Brewer CE, Chuang VJ, Masiello C et al (2014) New approaches to measuring biochar density and porosity. Biomass Bioenergy 66:176–185. doi:10.1016/j.biombioe.2014.03.059
Bruun EW, Hauggaard-Nielsen H, Ibrahim N et al (2011) Influence of fast pyrolysis temperature on biochar labile fraction and short-term carbon loss in a loamy soil. Biomass Bioenergy 35:1182–1189. doi:10.1016/j.biombioe.2010.12.008
Calderón FJ, McCarty GW, Reeves JB (2006) Pyrolsis-MS and FT-IR analysis of fresh and decomposed dairy manure. J Anal Appl Pyrolysis 76:14–23. doi:10.1016/j.jaap.2005.06.009
Cantrell KB, Hunt PG, Uchimiya M et al (2012) Impact of pyrolysis temperature and manure source on physicochemical characteristics of biochar. Bioresour Technol 107:419–428. doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2011.11.084
Cao X, Harris W (2010) Properties of dairy manure derived biochar pertinent to its potential use in remediation. Bioresour Technol 101:5222–5228. doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2010.02.052
Cao X, Ma L, Liang Y et al (2011) Simultaneous immobilization of lead and atrazine in contaminated soils using dairy-manure biochar. Environ Sci Technol 45:4884–4889. doi:10.1021/es103752u
Charon E, Rouzaud JN, Aléon J (2014) Graphitization at low temperatures in the presence of iron implications in planetology. Carbon N Y 66:178–190. doi:10.1016/j.carbon.2013.08.056
Chen P, Sun M, Zhu Z et al (2015) Optimization of ultrasonic-assisted extraction for determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in biochar-based fertilizer by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Anal Bioanal Chem 407:6149–6157. doi:10.1007/s00216-015-8790-3
Cheng CH, Lehmann J (2009) Ageing of black carbon along a temperature gradient. Chemosphere 75:1021–1027. doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2009.01.045
Chintala R, Mollinedo J, Schumacher TE et al (2013) Effect of biochar on chemical properties of acidic soil. Arch Agron Soil Sci 60:393–404. doi:10.1080/03650340.2013.789870
Chintala R, Schumacher TE, McDonald LM et al (2014) Phosphorus sorption and availability from biochars and soil/biochar mixtures. CLEAN Soil Air Water 42:626–634. doi:10.1002/clen.201300089
Cordero T, Marquez F, Rodriguez-Mirasol J, Rodriguez J (2001) Predicting heating values of lignocellulosics and carbonaceous materials from proximate analysis. Fuel 80:1567–1571. doi:10.1016/S0016-2361(01)00034-5
Cowie AL, Downie AE, George BH et al (2012) Is sustainability certification for biochar the answer to environmental risks? Pesqui Agropecu Bras 47:637–648. doi:10.1590/S0100-204X2012000500002
Creamer AE, Gao B, Zhang M (2014) Carbon dioxide capture using biochar produced from sugarcane bagasse and hickory wood. Chem Eng J 249:174–179. doi:10.1016/j.cej.2014.03.105
Das DD, Schnitzer MI, Monreal CM, Mayer P (2009) Chemical composition of acid-base fractions separated from bio oil derived by fast pyrolysis of chicken manure. Bioresour Technol 100:6524–6532. doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2009.06.104
Datsyuk V, Kalyva M, Papagelis K et al (2008) Chemical oxidation of multiwalled carbon nanotubes. Carbon N Y 46:833–840. doi:10.1016/j.carbon.2008.02.012
Dempster DN, Gleeson DB, Solaiman ZM et al (2012) Decreased soil microbial biomass and nitrogen mineralisation with Eucalyptus biochar addition to a coarse textured soil. Plant Soil 354:311–324. doi:10.1007/s11104-011-1067-5
Ding W, Dong X, Ime IM et al (2014) Pyrolytic temperatures impact lead sorption mechanisms by bagasse biochars. Chemosphere 105:68–74. doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2013.12.042
Enders A, Hanley K, Whitman T et al (2012) Characterization of biochars to evaluate recalcitrance and agronomic performance. Bioresour Technol 114:644–653. doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2012.03.022
Fabbri D, Rombolà AG, Torri C, Spokas KA (2013) Determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in biochar and biochar amended soil. J Anal Appl Pyrolysis 103:60–67. doi:10.1016/j.jaap.2012.10.003
Feng Y, Xu Y, Yu Y et al (2012) Mechanisms of biochar decreasing methane emission from Chinese paddy soils. Soil Biol Biochem 46:80–88. doi:10.1016/j.soilbio.2011.11.016
Foo LPY, Tee CZ, Raimy NR et al (2012) Potential Malaysia agricultural waste materials for the biosorption of cadmium(II) from aqueous solution. Clean Technol Environ Policy 14:273–280. doi:10.1007/s10098-011-0398-5
Freitas JCC, Passamani EC, Orlando MTD et al (2002) Effects of ferromagnetic inclusions on 13C MAS NMR spectra of heat treated peat samples. Energy Fuels 16:1068–1075. doi:10.1021/ef010283w
Gaskin JW, Steiner C, Harris K et al (2008) Effect of low temperature pyrolysis conditions on biochar for agricultural use. Trans ASABE 51:2061–2069. doi:10.13031/2013.25409
Glaser B, Lehmann J, Zech W (2002) Ameliorating physical and chemical properties of highly weathered soils in the tropics with charcoal: a review. Biol Fertil Soils 35:219–230. doi:10.1007/s00374-002-0466-4
Heymann K, Lehmann J, Solomon D et al (2011) C 1 s K-edge near edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy for characterizing functional group chemistry of black carbon. Org Geochem 42:1055–1064. doi:10.1016/j.orggeochem.2011.06.021
Hiller E, Fargasová A, Zemanová L, Bartal M (2008) Influence of wheat ash on the MCPA immobilization in agricultural soils. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 81:285–288. doi:10.1007/s00128-008-9400-2
Holzwarth U, Gibson N (2011) The Scherrer equation versus the “Debye–Scherrer equation”. Nat Nanotechnol 6:534. doi:10.1038/nnano.2011.145
Hossain MK, Strezov Vladimir V, Chan KY et al (2011) Influence of pyrolysis temperature on production and nutrient properties of wastewater sludge biochar. J Environ Manag 92:223–228. doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2010.09.008
Hu X, Ding Z, Zimmerman AR et al (2015) Batch and column sorption of arsenic onto iron-impregnated biochar synthesized through hydrolysis. Water Res 68:206–216. doi:10.1016/j.watres.2014.10.009
Huisman DJ, Braadbaart F, van Wijk IM, van Os BJH (2012) Ashes to ashes, charcoal to dust: micromorphological evidence for ash-induced disintegration of charcoal in Early Neolithic (LBK) soil features in Elsloo (The Netherlands). J Archaeol Sci 39:994–1004. doi:10.1016/j.jas.2011.11.019
Inyang M, Gao B, Yao Y et al (2012) Removal of heavy metals from aqueous solution by biochars derived from anaerobically digested biomass. Bioresour Technol 110:50–56. doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2012.01.072
Ippolito J, Novak JM, Busscher WJ et al (2012) Switchgrass biochar affects two aridisols. J Environ Qual 41:1123–1130. doi:10.2134/jeq2011.0100
Jaafar NM, Clode PL, Abbott LK (2014) Microscopy observations of habitable space in biochar for colonization by fungal hyphae from soil. J Integr Agric 13:483–490. doi:10.1016/S2095-3119(13)60703-0
Jia Y, Xu L, Wang X, Demopoulos GP (2007) Infrared spectroscopic and X-rays diffraction characterization of the nature of adsorbed arsenate on ferrihydrite. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 71:1643–1654. doi:10.1016/j.gca.2006.12.021
Jiang W, Saxena A, Song B et al (2004) Elucidation of functional groups on gram-positive and gram-negative bacterial surfaces using infrared spectroscopy elucidation of functional groups on gram-positive and gram-negative bacterial surfaces using infrared spectroscopy. Langmuir 20:11433–11442. doi:10.1021/la049043
Karhu K, Mattila T, Bergström I, Regina K (2011) Biochar addition to agricultural soil increased CH4 uptake and water holding capacity: results from a short-term pilot field study. Agric Ecosyst Environ 140:309–313. doi:10.1016/j.agee.2010.12.005
Keiluweit M, Nico PS, Johnson MG, Kleber M (2010) Dynamic molecular structure of plant biomass-derived black carbon (biochar). Environ Sci Technol 44:1247–1253. doi:10.1021/es9031419
Khan S, Wang N, Reid BJ et al (2013) Reduced bioaccumulation of PAHs by Lactuca satuva L. grown in contaminated soil amended with sewage sludge and sewage sludge derived biochar. Environ Pollut 175:64–68. doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2012.12.014
Khan S, Reid BJ, Li G, Zhu Y-G (2014) Application of biochar to soil reduces cancer risk via rice consumption: a case study in Miaoqian village, Longyan, China. Environ Int 68:154–161. doi:10.1016/j.envint.2014.03.017
Kim WK, Shim T, Kim YS et al (2013) Characterization of cadmium removal from aqueous solution by biochar produced from a giant Miscanthus at different pyrolytic temperatures. Bioresour Technol 138:266–270. doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2013.03.186
Lashari MS, Ye Y, Ji H et al (2014) Biochar-manure compost in conjunction with pyroligneous solution alleviated salt stress and improved leaf bioactivity of maize in a saline soil from central China: a 2-year field experiment. J Sci Food Agric. doi:10.1002/jsfa.6825
Lehmann J, Joseph S (2009) Biochar for environmental management: science and technology, 1st edn. EARTHSCAN, Gateshead
Li P, Jiang EY, Bai HL (2011) Fabrication of ultrathin epitaxial γ-Fe2O3 films by reactive sputtering. Phys D Appl Phys. doi:10.1088/0022-3727/44/7/075003
Li K, Jiang Y, Wang X et al (2016) Effect of nitric acid modification on the lead(II) adsorption of mesoporous biochars with different mesopore size distributions. Clean Technol Environ Policy 18:797–805. doi:10.1007/s10098-015-1056-0
Lian F, Huang F, Chen W et al (2011) Sorption of apolar and polar organic contaminants by waste tire rubber and its chars in single- and bi-solute systems. Environ Pollut 159:850–857. doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2011.01.002
Illingworth J, Williams PT, Rand B (2013) Characterisation of biochar porosity from pyrolysis of biomass flax fibre. J Energy Inst 86(2):63–70. doi:10.1179/1743967112Z.00000000046
Lou L, Luo L, Yang Q et al (2012) Release of pentachlorophenol from black carbon-inclusive sediments under different environmental conditions. Chemosphere 88:598–604. doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2012.03.039
Maroušek J (2014) Significant breakthrough in biochar cost reduction. Clean Technol Environ Policy 16:1821–1825. doi:10.1007/s10098-014-0730-y
McBeath AV, Smernik RJ, Schneider MPW et al (2011) Determination of the aromaticity and the degree of aromatic condensation of a thermosequence of wood charcoal using NMR. Org Geochem 42:1194–1202. doi:10.1016/j.orggeochem.2011.08.008
McBeath AV, Smernik RJ, Krull ES, Lehmann J (2014) The influence of feedstock and production temperature on biochar carbon chemistry: a solid-state 13C NMR study. Biomass Bioenergy 60:121–129. doi:10.1016/j.biombioe.2013.11.002
Mohan D, Pittman CU, Bricka M et al (2007) Sorption of arsenic, cadmium, and lead by chars produced from fast pyrolysis of wood and bark during bio-oil production. J Colloid Interface Sci 310:57–73. doi:10.1016/j.jcis.2007.01.020
Mohan D, Kumar H, Sarswat A et al (2014a) Cadmium and lead remediation using magnetic oak wood and oak bark fast pyrolysis bio-chars. Chem Eng J 236:513–528. doi:10.1016/j.cej.2013.09.057
Mohan D, Sarswat A, Ok YS, Pittman CU (2014b) Organic and inorganic contaminants removal from water with biochar, a renewable, low cost and sustainable adsorbent: a critical review. Bioresour Technol 160:191–202. doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2014.01.120
Mohan D, Singh P, Sarswat A et al (2015) Lead sorptive removal using magnetic and nonmagnetic fast pyrolysis energy cane biochars. J Colloid Interface Sci 448:238–250. doi:10.1016/j.jcis.2014.12.030
Morales VL, Pérez-Reche FJ, Hapca SM et al (2015) Reverse engineering of biochar. Bioresour Technol 183:163–174. doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2015.02.043
Mukherjee A, Zimmerman AR, Harris W (2011) Surface chemistry variations among a series of laboratory-produced biochars. Geoderma 163:247–255. doi:10.1016/j.geoderma.2011.04.021
Nartey OD, Zhao B (2014) Biochar preparation, characterization, and adsorptive capacity and its effect on bio availability of contaminants: an overview. Adv Mater Sci Eng 2014:1–12. doi:10.1155/2014/715398
Nguyen BT, Lehmann J, Hockaday WC et al (2010) Temperature sensitivity of black carbon decomposition and oxidation. Environ Sci Technol 44:3324–3331. doi:10.1021/es903016y
Novak JM, Busscher WJ (2013) Advanced biofuels and bioproducts. Springer, New York, pp 69–96. doi:10.1007/978-1-4614-3348-4_7
Novak JM, Busscher WJ, Laird DL et al (2009) Impact of biochar amendment on fertility of a Southeastern coastal plain soil. Soil Sci 174:105–112. doi:10.1097/SS.0b013e3181981d9a
Park JH, Choppala GK, Bolan NS et al (2011) Biochar reduces the bioavailability and phytotoxicity of heavy metals. Plant Soil 348:439–451. doi:10.1007/s11104-011-0948-y
Petit C, Kante K, Bandosz TJ (2010) The role of sulfur-containing groups in ammonia retention on activated carbons. Carbon N Y 48:654–667. doi:10.1016/j.carbon.2009.10.007
Rajkovich S, Enders A, Hanley K et al (2012) Corn growth and nitrogen nutrition after additions of biochars with varying properties to a temperate soil. Biol Fertil Soils 48:271–284. doi:10.1007/s00374-011-0624-7
Razon LF (2014) Is nitrogen fixation (once again) “vital to the progress of civilized humanity”? Clean Technol Environ Policy. doi:10.1007/s10098-014-0835-3
Rutigliano FA, Romano M, Marzaioli R et al (2014) Effect of biochar addition on soil microbial community in a wheat crop. Eur J Soil Biol 60:9–15. doi:10.1016/j.ejsobi.2013.10.007
Shafeeyan MS, Daud WMAW, Houshmand A, Arami-Niya A (2011) Ammonia modification of activated carbon to enhance carbon dioxide adsorption: effect of pre-oxidation. Appl Surf Sci 257:3936–3942. doi:10.1016/j.apsusc.2010.11.127
Singh B, Fang Y, Cowie BCC, Thomsen L (2014) NEXAFS and XPS characterisation of carbon functional groups of fresh and aged biochars. Org Geochem 77:1–10. doi:10.1016/j.orggeochem.2014.09.006
Spokas KA, Novak JM, Venterea RT (2012) Biochar’s role as an alternative N-fertilizer: ammonia capture. Plant Soil 350:35–42. doi:10.1007/s11104-011-0930-8
Tong XJ, Li JY, Yuan JH, Xu RK (2011) Adsorption of Cu(II) by biochars generated from three crop straws. Chem Eng J 172:828–834. doi:10.1016/j.cej.2011.06.069
Tripathi M, Sahu JN, Ganesan P (2016) Effect of process parameters on production of biochar from biomass waste through pyrolysis: a review. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 55:467–481. doi:10.1016/j.rser.2015.10.122
Turrado Fernández S, Paredes Sánchez JP, Gutiérrez Trashorras AJ (2015) Analysis of forest residual biomass potential for bioenergy production in Spain. Clean Technol Environ Policy. doi:10.1007/s10098-015-1008-8
Ubando AT, Culaba AB, Aviso KB et al (2014) Fuzzy mixed-integer linear programming model for optimizing a multi-functional bioenergy system with biochar production for negative carbon emissions. Clean Technol Environ Policy 16:1537–1549. doi:10.1007/s10098-014-0721-z
Uchimiya M, Klasson KT, Wartelle LH, Lima IM (2011a) Influence of soil properties on heavy metal sequestration by biochar amendment: 1. Copper sorption isotherms and the release of cations. Chemosphere 82:1431–1437. doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2010.11.050
Uchimiya M, Wartelle LH, Klasson KT et al (2011b) Influence of pyrolysis temperature on biochar property and function as a heavy metal sorbent in soil. J Agric Food Chem 59:2501–2510. doi:10.1021/jf104206c
Vithanage M, Rajapaksha AU, Ahmad M et al (2015) Mechanisms of antimony adsorption onto soybean stover-derived biochar in aqueous solutions. J Environ Manag 151:443–449. doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2014.11.005
Vochozka M, Maroušková A, Váchal J, Straková J (2016a) Biochar pricing hampers biochar farming. Clean Technol Environ Policy. doi:10.1007/s10098-016-1113-3
Vochozka M, Maroušková A, Váchal J, Straková J (2016b) Reengineering the paper mill waste management. Clean Technol Environ Policy 18:323–329. doi:10.1007/s10098-015-1012-z
Wang S, Gao B, Zimmerman AR et al (2014) Removal of arsenic by magnetic biochar prepared from pinewood and natural hematite. Bioresour Technol 175C:391–395. doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2014.10.104
Wang S, Gao B, Li Y et al (2015a) Manganese oxide-modified biochars: preparation, characterization, and sorption of arsenate and lead. Bioresour Technol 181:13–17. doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2015.01.044
Wang S, Gao B, Zimmerman AR et al (2015b) Physicochemical and sorptive properties of biochars derived from woody and herbaceous biomass. Chemosphere 134:257–262. doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2015.04.062
Wen B, Zhang J, Zhang S et al (2007) Phenanthrene sorption to soil humic acid and different humin fractions. Environ Sci Technol 41:3165–3171. doi:10.1021/es062262s
Wiedemeier DB, Abiven S, Hockaday WC et al (2015) Aromaticity and degree of aromatic condensation of char. Org Geochem 78:135–143. doi:10.1016/j.orggeochem.2014.10.002
Wu H, Gao G, Zhou X, Zhang Y, Guo S (2012) Control on the formation of Fe3O4 nanoparticles on chemically reduced graphene oxide surfaces. CrystEngComm 14:499–504. doi:10.1039/C1CE05724C
Xiu S, Shahbazi A, Wang L, Wallace CW (2010) Supercritical ethanol liquefaction of swine manure for bio-oils production Department of Natural Resource and Environmental Design, Biological Engineering Program, North Caroli. Am J Eng Appl Sci 3:494–500
Yang JE, Skogley EO, Ahmad M et al (2013) Carbonaceous resin capsule for vapor-phase monitoring of volatile hydrocarbons in soil: partitioning and kinetic model verification. Environ Geochem Health 35:715–725. doi:10.1007/s10653-013-9529-8
Yao Y, Gao B, Inyang M et al (2011a) Removal of phosphate from aqueous solution by biochar derived from anaerobically digested sugar beet tailings. J Hazard Mater 190:501–507. doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2011.03.083
Yao Y, Gao B, Inyang M et al (2011b) Biochar derived from anaerobically digested sugar beet tailings: characterization and phosphate removal potential. Bioresour Technol 102:6273–6278. doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2011.03.006
Yao Y, Gao B, Chen J et al (2013) Engineered carbon (biochar) prepared by direct pyrolysis of Mg-accumulated tomato tissues: characterization and phosphate removal potential. Bioresour Technol 138:8–13
Yao Y, Gao B, Fang J et al (2014) Characterization and environmental applications of clay–biochar composites. Chem Eng J 242:136–143. doi:10.1016/j.cej.2013.12.062
Yargicoglu EN, Sadasivam BY, Reddy KR, Spokas K (2015) Physical and chemical characterization of waste wood derived biochars. Waste Manag 36:256–268. doi:10.1016/j.wasman.2014.10.029
Zhang M, Gao B (2013) Removal of arsenic, methylene blue, and phosphate by biochar/AlOOH nanocomposite. Chem Eng J 226:286–292. doi:10.1016/j.cej.2013.04.077
Zhang M, Gao B, Yao Y et al (2012a) Synthesis of porous MgO-biochar nanocomposites for removal of phosphate and nitrate from aqueous solutions. Chem Eng J 210:26–32. doi:10.1016/j.cej.2012.08.052
Zhang M, Gao B, Yao Y et al (2012b) Synthesis, characterization, and environmental implications of graphene-coated biochar. Sci Total Environ 435–436:567–572. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2012.07.038
Zhang M, Gao B, Varnoosfaderani S et al (2013a) Preparation and characterization of a novel magnetic biochar for arsenic removal. Bioresour Technol 130:457–462. doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2012.11.132
Zhang M, Gao B, Yao Y, Inyang M (2013b) Phosphate removal ability of biochar/MgAl-LDH ultra-fine composites prepared by liquid-phase deposition. Chemosphere 92:1042–1047. doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2013.02.050
Zhang J, Zhong Z, Zhang B et al (2016) Prediction of kinetic parameters of biomass pyrolysis based on the optimal mixture design method. Clean Technol Environ Policy. doi:10.1007/s10098-016-1137-8
Zhao MY, Enders A, Lehmann J (2014) Short- and long-term flammability of biochars. Biomass Bioenergy 69:183–191. doi:10.1016/j.biombioe.2014.07.017
Zhou Y, Gao B, Zimmerman AR et al (2014a) Biochar-supported zerovalent iron for removal of various contaminants from aqueous solutions. Bioresour Technol 152:538–542. doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2013.11.021
Zhou Y, Gao B, Zimmerman AR, Cao X (2014b) Biochar-supported zerovalent iron reclaims silver from aqueous solution to form antimicrobial nanocomposite. Chemosphere 117:801–805. doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2014.10.057
Zimmerman AR (2010) Abiotic and microbial oxidation of laboratory-produced black carbon (biochar). Environ Sci Technol 44:1295–1301. doi:10.1021/es903140c
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Amin, F.R., Huang, Y., He, Y. et al. Biochar applications and modern techniques for characterization. Clean Techn Environ Policy 18, 1457–1473 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10098-016-1218-8
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10098-016-1218-8