Biochar's Evolution: From Agricultural Byproduct to Soil and Water Treatment Powerhouse

About this Research Topic

Background

Biochar, a carbon-rich material derived primarily from the pyrolysis of organic biomass, was once regarded as a simple agricultural byproduct. Traditionally utilized as a soil amendment to enhance soil fertility and crop yields, its unique physicochemical properties, such as high surface area, porous structure, and diverse functional groups, have drawn increasing interest far beyond agriculture. Over the past decades, biochar has transitioned from an ancillary waste product to a keystone technology in environmental management and wastewater treatment. These novel characteristics position biochar as a cost-effective and efficient tool for a variety of engineering applications including water purification, biosolids management, air pollution control, and the immobilization of conventional and emerging contaminants, such as heavy metals, pesticides, and other organic contaminants (e.g., PFAS).

The rapid evolution of biochar’s application spectrum raises critical questions concerning its effectiveness, adaptability, longevity, scalability, and environmental safety in diverse engineering contexts. Although the benefits of biochar in agriculture are well-documented, its mechanisms and long-term impacts in complex remediation scenarios require rigorous, long-term investigations. There remain knowledge gaps regarding biochar’s performance related to feedstock selection, production parameters, field-scale implementation, and post-treatment environmental fate. The goal of this Research Topic is to consolidate cutting-edge advances that clarify biochar’s potential as a multifunctional engineering powerhouse. We aim to provide a comprehensive overview of the scientific, technological, and policy frameworks required to expand biochar’s utility, address uncertainties, and translate research innovations into practice.

We welcome Original Research, Review, Mini Review, and Perspective articles on themes including, but not limited to:

• Technological advancements in biochar source, production, and modification for enhanced remediation performance
• Mechanisms underlying biochar’s interactions with conventional and new emerging pollutants (heavy metals, nutrients, organics) in water, soil, and air
• Field trials and practical applications in wastewater management and environmental restoration
• Assessment of biochar’s environmental fate, potential risks, and lifecycle.
• Socioeconomic and regulatory aspects impacting the adoption of biochar-based engineering technologies

Both experimental, theoretical, and field-scale studies are welcome, with an emphasis on multidisciplinary approaches that bridge knowledge gaps and foster sustainable environmental solutions.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Data Report
• Editorial
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Systematic Review
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Data Report
• Editorial
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Biochar, adsorption, environmental remediation, soil amendment, pollutant removal, emerging contaminants, sustainable technology

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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