Recent Advances on Porous Biochar: From Production to Remediation of Organic Pollutants from Water and Future Perspectives

Abstract Organic pollutants in aqueous pose a serious threat toward ecosystems and human health, marking them as a pressing global environmental issue. In response to this urgent challenge, scientists have been pursuing efficient methods to minimize their presence, and biochar has been regarded as a promising material. Although some studies have been reported by using biochar to address a specific pollutant, they still lack systematic analysis for biochar synthesis and removal mechanisms for a broad spectrum of pollutants. This paper aims to present a review on recent advances in biochar synthesis and removal of dyes, antibiotics, and pesticides via adsorption and oxidative degradation. The focus is to rationalize factors that control pore size, functional groups, and removal ability as function of feedstocks and synthetic conditions, and temperature is identified as the most critical factor. Modifications, such as doping heteroatoms and metals, are important to enhance the removal ability of biochar. The challenges and opportunities for future biochar exploration are discussed, hoping to inspire more researchers to participate in this fascinating area.