Beesley et al. 2011). Furthermore, this technique has been proved in the remediation
of several petroleum-based pollutants in contaminated soils during laboratory and
field study (Xu and Lu 2010; Mukherjee and Bordoloi 2011). The hydrophobic
nature of most of the soil contaminants suppresses the rate of uptake and degradation
of pollutants by microorganism (Semple et al. 2003). Biochar produced from
biomass of organic material may sequester atmospheric CO 2 in soils for a long
time due to more recalcitrant properties, thus reducing the carbon sink of sorbentbased remediation in contaminated soils (Bushnaf et al. 2011). The use of biochar
could be cheaper in a remediation of organic and inorganic pollutants because the
waste source materials are essentially free and the production of biochar requires less
energy and cost (Hale et al. 2011). However, biochar amendment to contaminated
soil has also been shown to increase the pollutant’s availability for microbial
breakdown by their own microbial community which is found inside biochar due
to large surface area and microspores (Rhodes et al. 2008). In various current and
past studies, the feasibility of the use of biochar in petroleum hydrocarboncontaminated soil remediation has been carried out (Beesley et al. 2011). In this
chapter, we depict that the application of biochar in contaminated soil, affected by
various organic and inorganic pollutants, may be a sustainable approach to remediate
the concentration of soil pollutants.
2 What Is Biochar?
Biochar is a carbon-rich by-product of different feedstocks, which is produced at
higher temperature (450–600 approximately) in partial presence of oxygen that is
termed as thermal degradation of biomass such as rice straw, grass, woodchip, crop
residue, and sugarcane bagasse that enhances the agronomic variables and significantly remediates soil pollutants (Table 19.1: showing physicochemical properties
of different feedstocks). The addition of biochar can significantly improve soil
properties by decreasing methane emission and soil bulk density, enhancing soil
pH and organic carbon, increasing available nutrients and the number of
methanotrophs, etc. (Milla et al. 2013). The intense temperature is required for
the production of high-quality biochar which can be differentiated from charcoal
due to its use in soil amendments for various purposes likely fertility enhancement,
crop yield, to combat with pollution, etc. (Johannes 2007; Peter 2007; Gaunt and
Johannes 2008; Lehmann and Joseph 2009a, b). As stated earlier, biochar enhances
the crops’ yield and mitigates environmental pollution, such as reduction of GHGs
and soil pollutants (Peter 2007; Johannes 2007; Laird 2008; Ghoneim and Ebid
2013). Previously, it was reported that biochar increases the agriculture production
and mitigates methane emanation. However, biochar could also remediate various
hydrocarbons and toxic metals due to unique adsorption properties in soils.
19 Biochar: A Sustainable Tool in Soil Pollutant Bioremediation
477
of several petroleum-based pollutants in contaminated soils during laboratory and
field study (Xu and Lu 2010; Mukherjee and Bordoloi 2011). The hydrophobic
nature of most of the soil contaminants suppresses the rate of uptake and degradation
of pollutants by microorganism (Semple et al. 2003). Biochar produced from
biomass of organic material may sequester atmospheric CO 2 in soils for a long
time due to more recalcitrant properties, thus reducing the carbon sink of sorbentbased remediation in contaminated soils (Bushnaf et al. 2011). The use of biochar
could be cheaper in a remediation of organic and inorganic pollutants because the
waste source materials are essentially free and the production of biochar requires less
energy and cost (Hale et al. 2011). However, biochar amendment to contaminated
soil has also been shown to increase the pollutant’s availability for microbial
breakdown by their own microbial community which is found inside biochar due
to large surface area and microspores (Rhodes et al. 2008). In various current and
past studies, the feasibility of the use of biochar in petroleum hydrocarboncontaminated soil remediation has been carried out (Beesley et al. 2011). In this
chapter, we depict that the application of biochar in contaminated soil, affected by
various organic and inorganic pollutants, may be a sustainable approach to remediate
the concentration of soil pollutants.
2 What Is Biochar?
Biochar is a carbon-rich by-product of different feedstocks, which is produced at
higher temperature (450–600 approximately) in partial presence of oxygen that is
termed as thermal degradation of biomass such as rice straw, grass, woodchip, crop
residue, and sugarcane bagasse that enhances the agronomic variables and significantly remediates soil pollutants (Table 19.1: showing physicochemical properties
of different feedstocks). The addition of biochar can significantly improve soil
properties by decreasing methane emission and soil bulk density, enhancing soil
pH and organic carbon, increasing available nutrients and the number of
methanotrophs, etc. (Milla et al. 2013). The intense temperature is required for
the production of high-quality biochar which can be differentiated from charcoal
due to its use in soil amendments for various purposes likely fertility enhancement,
crop yield, to combat with pollution, etc. (Johannes 2007; Peter 2007; Gaunt and
Johannes 2008; Lehmann and Joseph 2009a, b). As stated earlier, biochar enhances
the crops’ yield and mitigates environmental pollution, such as reduction of GHGs
and soil pollutants (Peter 2007; Johannes 2007; Laird 2008; Ghoneim and Ebid
2013). Previously, it was reported that biochar increases the agriculture production
and mitigates methane emanation. However, biochar could also remediate various
hydrocarbons and toxic metals due to unique adsorption properties in soils.
19 Biochar: A Sustainable Tool in Soil Pollutant Bioremediation
477