Recent Developments in Understanding Biochar’s Physical–Chemistry
Biochar is a porous material obtained by biomass thermal degradation in oxygen-starved conditions. It is nowadays applied in many fields. For instance, it is used to synthesize new materials for environmental remediation, catalysis, animal feeding, adsorbent for smells, etc. In the last decades, bio...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-03-01
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| Series: | Agronomy |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/11/4/615 |
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| author | Pellegrino Conte Roberta Bertani Paolo Sgarbossa Paola Bambina Hans-Peter Schmidt Roberto Raga Giuseppe Lo Papa Delia Francesca Chillura Martino Paolo Lo Meo |
| author_facet | Pellegrino Conte Roberta Bertani Paolo Sgarbossa Paola Bambina Hans-Peter Schmidt Roberto Raga Giuseppe Lo Papa Delia Francesca Chillura Martino Paolo Lo Meo |
| author_sort | Pellegrino Conte |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Biochar is a porous material obtained by biomass thermal degradation in oxygen-starved conditions. It is nowadays applied in many fields. For instance, it is used to synthesize new materials for environmental remediation, catalysis, animal feeding, adsorbent for smells, etc. In the last decades, biochar has been applied also to soils due to its beneficial effects on soil structure, pH, soil organic carbon content, and stability, and, therefore, soil fertility. In addition, this carbonaceous material shows high chemical stability. Once applied to soil it maintains its nature for centuries. Consequently, it can be considered a sink to store atmospheric carbon dioxide in soils, thereby mitigating the effects of global climatic changes. The literature contains plenty of papers dealing with biochar’s environmental effects. However, a discrepancy exists between studies dealing with biochar applications and those dealing with the physical-chemistry behind biochar behavior. On the one hand, the impression is that most of the papers where biochar is tested in soils are based on trial-and-error procedures. Sometimes these give positive results, sometimes not. Consequently, it appears that the scientific world is divided into two factions: either supporters or detractors. On the other hand, studies dealing with biochar’s physical-chemistry do not appear helpful in settling the factions’ problem. This review paper aims at collecting all the information on physical-chemistry of biochar and to use it to explain biochar’s role in different fields of application. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T12:56:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-20537fd013984283bf486980b053f6bb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4395 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T12:56:50Z |
| publishDate | 2021-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agronomy |
| spelling | doaj.art-20537fd013984283bf486980b053f6bb2023-11-21T11:50:11ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952021-03-0111461510.3390/agronomy11040615Recent Developments in Understanding Biochar’s Physical–ChemistryPellegrino Conte0Roberta Bertani1Paolo Sgarbossa2Paola Bambina3Hans-Peter Schmidt4Roberto Raga5Giuseppe Lo Papa6Delia Francesca Chillura Martino7Paolo Lo Meo8Department of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Science, University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, ItalyDepartment of Industrial Engineering, University of Padua, 35131 Padua, ItalyDepartment of Industrial Engineering, University of Padua, 35131 Padua, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Science, University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, ItalyIthaka Institute for Carbon Strategies, Ancienne Eglise 9, 1974 Arbaz, SwitzerlandDepartment of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, University of Padua, 35131 Padua, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Science, University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, ItalyDepartment of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, ItalyDepartment of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, ItalyBiochar is a porous material obtained by biomass thermal degradation in oxygen-starved conditions. It is nowadays applied in many fields. For instance, it is used to synthesize new materials for environmental remediation, catalysis, animal feeding, adsorbent for smells, etc. In the last decades, biochar has been applied also to soils due to its beneficial effects on soil structure, pH, soil organic carbon content, and stability, and, therefore, soil fertility. In addition, this carbonaceous material shows high chemical stability. Once applied to soil it maintains its nature for centuries. Consequently, it can be considered a sink to store atmospheric carbon dioxide in soils, thereby mitigating the effects of global climatic changes. The literature contains plenty of papers dealing with biochar’s environmental effects. However, a discrepancy exists between studies dealing with biochar applications and those dealing with the physical-chemistry behind biochar behavior. On the one hand, the impression is that most of the papers where biochar is tested in soils are based on trial-and-error procedures. Sometimes these give positive results, sometimes not. Consequently, it appears that the scientific world is divided into two factions: either supporters or detractors. On the other hand, studies dealing with biochar’s physical-chemistry do not appear helpful in settling the factions’ problem. This review paper aims at collecting all the information on physical-chemistry of biochar and to use it to explain biochar’s role in different fields of application.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/11/4/615charcoalsoil qualitypyrolysisnew materialscarbon sequestrationsoil remediation |
| spellingShingle | Pellegrino Conte Roberta Bertani Paolo Sgarbossa Paola Bambina Hans-Peter Schmidt Roberto Raga Giuseppe Lo Papa Delia Francesca Chillura Martino Paolo Lo Meo Recent Developments in Understanding Biochar’s Physical–Chemistry Agronomy charcoal soil quality pyrolysis new materials carbon sequestration soil remediation |
| title | Recent Developments in Understanding Biochar’s Physical–Chemistry |
| title_full | Recent Developments in Understanding Biochar’s Physical–Chemistry |
| title_fullStr | Recent Developments in Understanding Biochar’s Physical–Chemistry |
| title_full_unstemmed | Recent Developments in Understanding Biochar’s Physical–Chemistry |
| title_short | Recent Developments in Understanding Biochar’s Physical–Chemistry |
| title_sort | recent developments in understanding biochar s physical chemistry |
| topic | charcoal soil quality pyrolysis new materials carbon sequestration soil remediation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/11/4/615 |
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