Biochar as a potential strategy for remediation of contaminated mining soils: Mechanisms, applications, and future perspectives

Yining Gao; Pan Wu; Paramsothy Jeyakumar; Nanthi Bolan; Hailong Wang; Bin Gao; Shengsen Wang; Bing Wang

doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.114973

Biochar as a potential strategy for remediation of contaminated mining soils: Mechanisms, applications, and future perspectives

J Environ Manage. 2022 Jul 1:313:114973. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.114973. Epub 2022 Apr 7.

Authors

Yining Gao¹, Pan Wu², Paramsothy Jeyakumar³, Nanthi Bolan⁴, Hailong Wang⁵, Bin Gao⁶, Shengsen Wang⁷, Bing Wang⁸

Affiliations

¹ College of Resource and Environmental Engineering, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, Guizhou, China.
² College of Resource and Environmental Engineering, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, Guizhou, China; Key Laboratory of Karst Environment and Geohazard, Ministry of Natural Resources, Guiyang, 550025, Guizhou, China.
³ Environmental Sciences, School of Agriculture and Environment, Massey University, Private Bag 11 222, Palmerston North, 4442, New Zealand.
⁴ The Global Centre for Environmental Remediation, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.
⁵ Biochar Engineering Technology Research Center of Guangdong Province, School of Environment and Chemical Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, Guangdong, 528000, China.
⁶ Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
⁷ College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225127, China.
⁸ College of Resource and Environmental Engineering, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, Guizhou, China; Key Laboratory of Karst Environment and Geohazard, Ministry of Natural Resources, Guiyang, 550025, Guizhou, China. Electronic address: bwang6@gzu.edu.cn.

PMID: 35398638
DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.114973

Abstract

Soil heavy metal contamination caused by mining activities is a global issue. These heavy metals can be enriched in plants and animals through the food chain, and eventually transferred to the human system and threatening public health. Biochar, as an environmentally friendly soil remediation agent, can effectively immobilize heavy metals in soil. However, most researchers concern more about the remediation effect and mechanism of biochar for industrial and agricultural contaminated soil, while related reviews focusing on mining soil remediation are limited. Furthermore, the remediation effect of soil in mining areas is affected by many factors, such as physicochemical properties of biochar, pyrolysis conditions, soil conditions, mining environment and application method, which can lead to great differences in the remediation effect of biochar in diverse mining areas. Therefore, it is necessary to systematically unravel the relevant knowledge of biochar remediation, which can also provide a guide for future studies on biochar remediation of contaminated soils in mining areas. The present paper first reviews the negative effects of mining activities on soil and the advantages of biochar relative to other remediation methods, followed by the mechanism and influencing factors of biochar on reducing heavy metal migration and bioavailability in mining soil were systematically summarized. Finally, the main research directions and development trends in the future are pointed out, and suggestions for future development are proposed.

Keywords: Biochar; Heavy metal; Immobilization; Mining soil; Remediation.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Charcoal / chemistry
Environmental Restoration and Remediation*
Metals, Heavy* / analysis
Soil / chemistry
Soil Pollutants* / analysis

Substances

Metals, Heavy
Soil
Soil Pollutants
biochar
Charcoal