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Sci Total Environ

Title:		"Biochars as media for air pollution control systems: Contaminant removal, applications and future research directions"
Author(s):		Gwenzi W; Chaukura N; Wenga T; Mtisi M;
Address:		"Biosystems and Environmental Engineering Research Group, Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zimbabwe, P.O. Box MP 167, Mount Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe. Electronic address: wgwenzi@agric.uz.ac.zw. Department of Physical and Earth Sciences, Sol Plaatje University, Kimberley, South Africa. Waste Treatment and Utilization Research Group, Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zimbabwe, P.O. Box MP 167, Mount Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe. Biosystems and Environmental Engineering Research Group, Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zimbabwe, P.O. Box MP 167, Mount Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe"
Journal Title:		Sci Total Environ
Year:		2021
Volume:		20200908
Issue:
Page Number:		142249 -
DOI:		10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142249
ISSN/ISBN:		1879-1026 (Electronic) 0048-9697 (Linking)
Abstract:		"Biochars are low-cost and renewable biomaterials with several applications, including soil amendment, mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions, and removal of both inorganic and organic contaminants in aqueous systems. An increasing body of recent evidence indicates that biochars can also remove gaseous chemical contaminants, such as those occurring in industrial flue gases. However, unlike other applications such as in agroecosystems, soil amendments, and aquatic systems, comprehensive reviews on biochar applications in the field of air pollution control are still lacking. The current paper examined existing evidence to understand the nature of contaminants, particularly the gaseous ones, potential applications, constraints, and future research needs pertaining to biochar applications in air pollution control. The preparation of biochars and their functionalized derivatives, and the properties influencing their capacity to remove gaseous contaminants are summarized. The removal capacity and mechanisms of various organic and inorganic gaseous contaminants by biochars are discussed. Evidence shows that biochars effectively remove metal vapours, particularly elemental mercury (Hg(0)), acidic gases (H(2)S, SO(2), CO(2)), ozone, nitrogen oxides (NO(x)), and organic contaminants including aromatic compounds, volatile organic compounds, and odorous substances. The mechanisms for the removal of gaseous contaminants, including; adsorption, precipitation, and size exclusion were presented. Potential industrial application domains include remediation of gaseous emissions from incinerators, waste-to-energy systems, kilns, biomass and coal-fired boilers/cookers, cremation, smelters, wastewater treatment, and agricultural production systems including livestock husbandry. These industrial applications, coupled with the renewable, low-cost and sustainable nature of biochars, point to opportunities to further develop and scale up the biochar technology in the air pollution control industry. However, the biochar-based air filter technology still faces several challenges, largely stemming from constraints and several knowledge gaps, which were highlighted. Hence, further research is required to address these constraints and knowledge gaps before the benefits of the biochar-based air filters are realized"
Keywords:		Adsorption *Air Pollution/prevention & control *Charcoal Conservation of Natural Resources Soil Acidic gases Industrial applications Nitrogen oxides Removal mechanisms Toxic metals Volatile organic compounds;
Notes:		"MedlineGwenzi, Willis Chaukura, Nhamo Wenga, Terrence Mtisi, Munyaradzi eng Review Netherlands 2020/11/20 Sci Total Environ. 2021 Jan 20; 753:142249. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142249. Epub 2020 Sep 8"