Comparative Evaluation of Hydrochars and Pyrochars for Phosphate Adsorption from Wastewater

Biochar represents the rich carbon residues that remains after thermally pyrolyzing or liquefying different biomass types in an oxygen-free environment. The availability of animal and agricultural wastes makes the biochar a low-cost product. It is, as a carbon-rich product, resistant to mineralization and decomposition. Biochar can be used as a multifunctional material in many applications in the environmental and agricultural sectors. Recently, a growing interest for the use of biochar in different fields is rising because of its use as a sorbent for organic and nonorganic contaminants from aqueous solutions. In this chapter, recent studies on pyrochar/hydrochar production, characterization, and phosphate adsorption are reviewed and summarized. The remediation technologies for phosphate removal from contaminated water using biochar are also discussed. The effects of reaction temperature and initial solution pH on phosphate adsorption onto biochar are compared. In addition, we highlighted the models that are used for adsorption kinetics and adsorption isotherms. ,