Advances in Biomass-Derived Carbon Materials: Production, Functionalization, and Applications for Contaminant Removal

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Materials Science
• Chemical Engineering

Background:

• Biomass waste presents a sustainable, cost-effective, and eco-friendly source for carbon materials.
• Biomass-derived carbon materials (BCMs) possess high carbon content and renewability.
• BCMs are effective in removing various pollutants, including heavy metals, dyes, and emerging organic contaminants.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the synthesis of BCMs from diverse organic sources.
• To examine the efficiency of BCMs in pollutant removal for environmental remediation.
• To explore modification strategies for enhancing BCM adsorption capabilities.

Main Methods:

• Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC)
• Pyrolysis
• Microwave-assisted synthesis
• Chemical and physical modification techniques

Main Results:

• BCMs exhibit high surface area and porosity, crucial for pollutant adsorption.
• Various BCMs, including activated carbon, graphene, CNTs, and biochar, are synthesized from plant, animal, and aquatic waste.
• Modified BCMs demonstrate enhanced adsorption capabilities for water pollutants.

Conclusions:

• BCMs hold significant potential for environmental remediation, particularly in water purification.
• Challenges in biomass conversion, processing, and commercialization need addressing for widespread BCM application.
• Further research into optimizing BCM synthesis and modification is essential for sustainable environmental solutions.