Antibiotic bioremediation by new generation biochar: Recent updates

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Materials Science
• Chemical Engineering

Background:

• Rising multidrug resistance in microbes and increasing antibiotic pollution pose a severe global health crisis.
• Biochar-based remediation is a promising strategy to mitigate antibiotic contamination in the environment.
• Biochar engineering, particularly through composite modification, significantly enhances its catalytic and pollutant-binding capabilities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the efficiency of biochar for abating emerging antibiotic pollutants.
• To correlate feedstock, production conditions, and engineering techniques with biochar properties and remediation performance.
• To examine the role of modification strategies in developing advanced biochar composites for antibiotic removal.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on biochar production, modification, and application in antibiotic remediation.
• Analysis of feedstock types, pyrolysis conditions, and chemical/metal-composite modification strategies.
• Examination of biochar-pollutant interactions (e.g., π-π stacking, electrostatic, H-bonding) and remediation mechanisms (e.g., adsorption, catalysis, oxidation).

Main Results:

• Biochar remediation potential for various antibiotics ranges from 20 to 552 mg g⁻¹.
• Chemical/metal-composite modification significantly boosts biochar's catalytic activity and remediation efficiency.
• Surface functionalities of biochar dictate the interaction mechanisms with antibiotic pollutants.

Conclusions:

• Engineered biochar and its composites demonstrate remarkable efficiency in removing antibiotic pollutants through adsorption, photocatalysis, and oxidation.
• Understanding the relationship between biochar properties, modification techniques, and remediation performance is crucial for optimizing its application.
• Further research into biochar-based environmental remediation holds significant promise for addressing antibiotic pollution.