Biochar application strategies for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons removal from soils

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Soil Science
• Environmental Chemistry

Background:

• Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are persistent soil pollutants posing significant environmental risks.
• Biochar (BC), a carbonaceous material, shows potential for immobilizing PAHs in contaminated soils.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate biochar's efficacy in immobilizing PAHs in soil.
• To describe the mechanisms, influencing factors, and combined remediation strategies involving biochar.

Main Methods:

• Review and description of bonding mechanisms between BC and PAHs.
• Analysis of factors affecting PAH immobilization: BC properties, PAH characteristics, incubation time, and soil properties.
• Exploration of BC-assisted biological remediation strategies.

Main Results:

• BC physicochemical properties, influenced by pyrolysis temperature, significantly affect PAH immobilization.
• Factors like PAH ring number, incubation time, and soil properties modulate BC's immobilization capacity.
• Combined BC and biological remediation demonstrates synergistic effects for enhanced PAH dissipation.

Conclusions:

• Biochar is a viable material for immobilizing soil PAHs.
• Optimizing BC properties and integrating biological tools enhances remediation effectiveness.
• Combined BC-biological remediation presents a promising approach for managing PAH-contaminated soils.