Structural characteristics of dissolved black carbon and its interactions with organic and inorganic contaminants: A critical review

Rashida Hameed; Guanlin Li; Yowhan Son; Huajun Fang; Taewan Kim; Chaodong Zhu; Yanfang Feng; Lihua Zhang; Adeel Abbas; Xin Zhao; Jiaqian Wang; Jian Li; Zhicong Dai; Daolin Du

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162210

Structural characteristics of dissolved black carbon and its interactions with organic and inorganic contaminants: A critical review

Sci Total Environ. 2023 May 10:872:162210. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162210. Epub 2023 Feb 13.

Authors

Rashida Hameed¹, Guanlin Li², Yowhan Son³, Huajun Fang⁴, Taewan Kim⁵, Chaodong Zhu⁶, Yanfang Feng⁷, Lihua Zhang⁸, Adeel Abbas¹, Xin Zhao⁹, Jiaqian Wang¹, Jian Li¹, Zhicong Dai¹, Daolin Du¹

Affiliations

¹ School of Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China.
² School of Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China; Department of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: liguanlin@ujs.edu.cn.
³ Department of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea.
⁴ Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
⁵ Institute of Ecological Phytochemistry, Hankyong National University, Anseong 17579, Republic of Korea.
⁶ Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; College of Biological Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; State Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
⁷ Institute of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing 210014, China.
⁸ College of Life and Environmental Science, Minzu University of China, Beijing 100081, China.
⁹ Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea.

PMID: 36791863
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162210

Abstract

Biochar (BC) is a sustainable and renewable carbonaceous material, and its soluble component, dissolved black carbon (DBC), is the key to understanding BC's geological and environmental processes. Although the relationship between the changes in DBC structure and its properties, functions, and associated environmental risks has been explored, a gap remains in our understanding of DBC's fate and behavior in the natural environment. Thus, in this review, we have highlighted the molecular and chemical compositions and the structural evolution of DBC during pyrolysis, the influence of DBC's physicochemical properties on its fate and transport, DBC's interaction with soil and its contaminants, and DBC stability in soil and water environments along with potential risks. Based on our in-depth assessment of DBC and its biogeochemical roles, we believe that future studies should focus on the following: (1) using advanced techniques to understand the chemical and molecular structure of DBC deeply and concisely and, thus, determine its fundamental role in the natural environment; (2) investigating the multi-functional properties of DBC and its interaction mechanisms; and (3) evaluating the environmental behaviors of and risks associated with DBC after BC application. In future, it is necessary to gain a deeper insight into the fate and transport of DBC with contaminants and study its associated risks under BC application in the environment.

Keywords: Biochar; Dissolved black carbon; Interaction; Organic contaminants; Structural properties.

Publication types

Review