Biochar as a novel technology for treatment of onsite domestic wastewater: A critical review
Globally, about 2.7 billion people depend on onsite sanitation systems (OSS) (e.g., septic tanks) for their sanitation needs. Although onsite sanitation systems help in providing primary treatment for domestic wastewater, they don’t effectively remove nutrients, pathogens, and other inorganic contam...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-02-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Environmental Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2023.1095920/full |
| _version_ | 1797895873851555840 |
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| author | Chimdi C. Muoghalu Prosper Achaw Owusu Sarah Lebu Anne Nakagiri Swaib Semiyaga Oliver Terna Iorhemen Musa Manga |
| author_facet | Chimdi C. Muoghalu Prosper Achaw Owusu Sarah Lebu Anne Nakagiri Swaib Semiyaga Oliver Terna Iorhemen Musa Manga |
| author_sort | Chimdi C. Muoghalu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Globally, about 2.7 billion people depend on onsite sanitation systems (OSS) (e.g., septic tanks) for their sanitation needs. Although onsite sanitation systems help in providing primary treatment for domestic wastewater, they don’t effectively remove nutrients, pathogens, and other inorganic contaminants. Previous studies have posited that the use of post treatment systems which incorporate biochar leads to improved contaminant removal efficiency. However, the mechanism through which contaminants are removed and factors potentially affecting the removal are still understudied. To fill this knowledge gaps, this review discusses factors which affect efficiency of biochar in removing contaminants found in onsite domestic wastewater, modifications applied to improve the efficiency of biochar in removing contaminants, mechanisms through which different contaminants are removed and constraints in the use of biochar for onsite wastewater treatment. It was noted that the removal of contaminants involves a combination of mechanisms which include adsorption, filtration, biodegradation, ion exchange, pore entrapment. The combination of these mechanisms is brought about by the synergy between the properties of biochar and microbes trapped in the biofilm on the surface of the biochar. Future areas of research such as the modification of biochar, use of biochar in the removal of antibiotic resistant genes (ARGs), application of wet carbonization methods and resistance of biochar to physical disintegration are also discussed. This study provides useful information that can be applied in the use of biochar for the treatment of wastewater and guide future design of treatment systems for optimized treatment performance. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T07:32:39Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e93016dad57f4b6c9f337dd7f511b082 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-665X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T07:32:39Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Environmental Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-e93016dad57f4b6c9f337dd7f511b0822023-02-23T13:27:33ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Environmental Science2296-665X2023-02-011110.3389/fenvs.2023.10959201095920Biochar as a novel technology for treatment of onsite domestic wastewater: A critical reviewChimdi C. Muoghalu0Prosper Achaw Owusu1Sarah Lebu2Anne Nakagiri3Swaib Semiyaga4Oliver Terna Iorhemen5Musa Manga6The Water Institute at UNC, Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United StatesThe Water Institute at UNC, Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United StatesThe Water Institute at UNC, Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United StatesDepartment of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Kyambogo University, Kampala, UgandaDepartment of Civil and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT), Makerere University, Kampala, UgandaSchool of Engineering, University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC), Prince George, BC, CanadaThe Water Institute at UNC, Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United StatesGlobally, about 2.7 billion people depend on onsite sanitation systems (OSS) (e.g., septic tanks) for their sanitation needs. Although onsite sanitation systems help in providing primary treatment for domestic wastewater, they don’t effectively remove nutrients, pathogens, and other inorganic contaminants. Previous studies have posited that the use of post treatment systems which incorporate biochar leads to improved contaminant removal efficiency. However, the mechanism through which contaminants are removed and factors potentially affecting the removal are still understudied. To fill this knowledge gaps, this review discusses factors which affect efficiency of biochar in removing contaminants found in onsite domestic wastewater, modifications applied to improve the efficiency of biochar in removing contaminants, mechanisms through which different contaminants are removed and constraints in the use of biochar for onsite wastewater treatment. It was noted that the removal of contaminants involves a combination of mechanisms which include adsorption, filtration, biodegradation, ion exchange, pore entrapment. The combination of these mechanisms is brought about by the synergy between the properties of biochar and microbes trapped in the biofilm on the surface of the biochar. Future areas of research such as the modification of biochar, use of biochar in the removal of antibiotic resistant genes (ARGs), application of wet carbonization methods and resistance of biochar to physical disintegration are also discussed. This study provides useful information that can be applied in the use of biochar for the treatment of wastewater and guide future design of treatment systems for optimized treatment performance.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2023.1095920/fullbiocharbiomassgreywaterorganic wastewastewater treatmentpyrolysis |
| spellingShingle | Chimdi C. Muoghalu Prosper Achaw Owusu Sarah Lebu Anne Nakagiri Swaib Semiyaga Oliver Terna Iorhemen Musa Manga Biochar as a novel technology for treatment of onsite domestic wastewater: A critical review Frontiers in Environmental Science biochar biomass greywater organic waste wastewater treatment pyrolysis |
| title | Biochar as a novel technology for treatment of onsite domestic wastewater: A critical review |
| title_full | Biochar as a novel technology for treatment of onsite domestic wastewater: A critical review |
| title_fullStr | Biochar as a novel technology for treatment of onsite domestic wastewater: A critical review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Biochar as a novel technology for treatment of onsite domestic wastewater: A critical review |
| title_short | Biochar as a novel technology for treatment of onsite domestic wastewater: A critical review |
| title_sort | biochar as a novel technology for treatment of onsite domestic wastewater a critical review |
| topic | biochar biomass greywater organic waste wastewater treatment pyrolysis |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2023.1095920/full |
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