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Environments
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Biochar as an Environmental Technology
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Biochar as an Environmental Technology

A special issue of Environments (ISSN 2076-3298).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 May 2026 | Viewed by 4388

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Gabriel Gascó Guerrero

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Guest Editor
Department of Agricultural Production, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Interests: biochar; growing media; soil pollution; soil remediation; climate change
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Ana Méndez

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Guest Editor
Department of Geological and Mining Engineering, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28003 Madrid, Spain
Interests: biochar; waste management; pyrolysis; materials; recycling
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Jorge Paz-Ferreiro

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Chemical & Environmental Engineering, School of Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
Interests: biochar; waste management; phytoremediation; heavy metals; soil remediation; greenhouse gas emissions
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Biochar is a carbonaceous material with numerous applications, obtained through thermal treatment of organic materials. Its main applications include improving the physical, chemical, and biological properties of soils; remediating contaminated soils; serving as a component in growing media; and treating water. However, it should be highlighted that its use in soils has been identified as a strategy for addressing the impacts of climate change. This strategy is both mitigating, as it contributes to soil carbon sequestration, and adapting, as it can improve soil water retention by reducing the influence of changes in rainfall patterns.

In recent years, new applications of biochar have emerged, such as its use as a catalyst, as a component of more sustainable materials, in electrochemical energy storage processes, or in the preparation of more advanced environmentally friendly fertilizers within the framework of the circular economy.

Considering the above, the purpose of this Special Issue is to publish innovative research on the different uses of chars. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

  1. Climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies.
  2. Their use in the preparation of environmentally friendly advanced fertilizers.
  3. Energy storage processes.
  4. New materials.

Articles that focus solely on their agricultural use will not be accepted, unless they are considered highly innovative studies.

Prof. Dr. Gabriel Gascó Guerrero
Prof. Dr. Ana Méndez
Dr. Jorge Paz-Ferreiro
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Environments is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • biochar
  • hydrochar
  • climate change
  • advanced fertilizers
  • environmental technologies

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

19 pages, 3582 KB  
Article
From Invasion to Valorization: Adsorbent Applications of Acacia dealbata Biomass in Portugal
by Morgana Macena, Bruno Esteves, Jackelline S. Pinto, Rui Novais, Ana P. F. Caetano, Lucas Grosche, Helena Pereira and Luísa Cruz-Lopes
Environments 2026, 13(2), 77; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments13020077 - 1 Feb 2026
Viewed by 538
Abstract
Acacia dealbata, an invasive species in Portugal, produces large amounts of residual biomass during control operations, thereby presenting challenges and opportunities for sustainable valorization. Heavy metal contamination, including zinc (Zn), remains a critical environmental challenge due to its widespread industrial release and [...] Read more.
Acacia dealbata, an invasive species in Portugal, produces large amounts of residual biomass during control operations, thereby presenting challenges and opportunities for sustainable valorization. Heavy metal contamination, including zinc (Zn), remains a critical environmental challenge due to its widespread industrial release and potential ecotoxicological impacts. This study explores the potential use of A. dealbata biomass as a biosorbent for zinc removal from aqueous solutions, comparing the performance of natural biomass and A. dealbata charcoal fines. Adsorption isotherms, kinetics, and surface characterizations were conducted to evaluate their physicochemical properties and sorption efficiency. The A. dealbata charcoal fines exhibited a significantly higher specific surface area (33 m2 g−1) and total pore volume (0.030 cm3 g−1) compared with the untreated biomass (1.4 m2 g−1 and 0.004 cm3 g−1, respectively). Despite these structural differences, both materials demonstrated similar maximum adsorption capacities (23.36 and 23.79 mg g−1 for natural and charcoal fines, respectively). These results indicate that untreated A. dealbata biomass can perform as a biosorbent comparably to its carbonized form, representing a simple, low-cost, and sustainable alternative for heavy metal removal, offering a low-energy and sustainable alternative for Zn remediation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biochar as an Environmental Technology)
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19 pages, 1404 KB  
Article
Optimizing Vineyard Pruning Biochars for Nutrient Adsorption: Toward Sustainable Fertilizer Applications
by Olena Dorosh, Andreia F. Peixoto, Cristina Delerue-Matos, Paula M. L. Castro and Manuela M. Moreira
Environments 2025, 12(12), 491; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments12120491 - 15 Dec 2025
Viewed by 758
Abstract
Agricultural residues, such as vineyard prunings, are abundant yet underutilized resources with potential for conversion into value-added products. In this study, vineyard prunings were investigated for the first time as feedstock for nutrient-enriched biochars intended for use as enhanced efficiency fertilizers (EEFs). Four [...] Read more.
Agricultural residues, such as vineyard prunings, are abundant yet underutilized resources with potential for conversion into value-added products. In this study, vineyard prunings were investigated for the first time as feedstock for nutrient-enriched biochars intended for use as enhanced efficiency fertilizers (EEFs). Four biochars were produced using distinct physical (industrial-scale pyrolysis, CO2-assisted pyrolysis) and chemical (MgCl2, AlCl3 pretreatment) procedures. Their adsorption capacities for nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) were evaluated across a wide pH range (2–13). Optimization studies, including dosage, kinetics, and isotherms, revealed maximum Langmuir adsorption capacities of 10.4 mg N g−1 and 12.7 mg P g−1, which were comparable to or higher than other low-cost agricultural biochars, confirming the competitive performance of vineyard pruning-derived biochars. Beyond adsorption efficiency, these biochars provide additional benefits by valorizing a widely available viticulture residue, reducing open-field disposal and burning, and generating low-cost fertilizers that may reduce nutrient leaching and improve soil health. This work introduces a novel circular pathway linking vineyard waste management to sustainable nutrient delivery, integrating agricultural byproduct utilization with environmental remediation strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biochar as an Environmental Technology)
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24 pages, 3569 KB  
Article
Biochar–Carboxymethylcellulose Composite as an Injectable Colloidal Suspension for In Situ Groundwater Remediation
by Damiano Feriaud, Sara Cerra, Ilaria Fratoddi and Marco Petrangeli Papini
Environments 2025, 12(12), 486; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments12120486 - 11 Dec 2025
Viewed by 1249
Abstract
Injectable Permeable Reactive Barriers (IPRBs) represent a promising in situ technology for groundwater remediation, with sustainable adsorbents like biochar offering an alternative to activated carbon. This study optimized an IPRB process using a colloidal suspension of pinewood biochar stabilized with sodium carboxymethylcellulose (BC@CMC). [...] Read more.
Injectable Permeable Reactive Barriers (IPRBs) represent a promising in situ technology for groundwater remediation, with sustainable adsorbents like biochar offering an alternative to activated carbon. This study optimized an IPRB process using a colloidal suspension of pinewood biochar stabilized with sodium carboxymethylcellulose (BC@CMC). The research first characterized the suspension stability under varying hydrochemical conditions, finding optimal colloidal stability at neutral to basic pH (6–9.4), while high ionic strength (>50 mM NaCl) and extreme pH values prompted aggregation. To prevent clogging, a key operational challenge, pre-filtration through a 64-µm sieve was implemented preventing column clogging and facilitating successful deep-bed distribution. The BC concentration was optimized to 3 g L−1, maximizing injectable adsorbent mass. Batch adsorption tests demonstrated the biochar’s high affinity for toluene (TOL) and tetrachloroethylene (PCE), with performance comparable to commercial activated carbon, particularly for PCE. The complete IPRB process was successfully validated through continuous-flow adsorption tests, where columns containing distributed BC@CMC showed high contaminant retention, with experimental retardation factors (Rx) of 144 ± 4 for TOL and 360 ± 6 for PCE. The study confirms that the optimized BC@CMC suspension enables highly efficient IPRB implementation, establishing this approach as a viable and sustainable strategy for field-scale groundwater remediation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biochar as an Environmental Technology)
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20 pages, 1448 KB  
Article
Amendment of Contaminated Soils with Biochar and Peat: Effects on Metal Solubility and Uptake in Grass and Earthworms in a Field Trial
by Charlotta Tiberg, Dan B. Kleja, Carin Sjöstedt, Mats Fröberg, Ingrid Rijk, A. Sigrun Dahlin, Maria Larsson, Alf Ekblad, Viktor Sjöberg and Anja Enell
Environments 2025, 12(11), 447; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments12110447 - 20 Nov 2025
Viewed by 1207
Abstract
The effectiveness of biochar amendment for remediation purposes depends on many factors related to the biochar and the contaminated site. Therefore, each application must be evaluated site-specifically. To facilitate full-scale implementation, more information from field studies on biochar-amended contaminated sites, as well as [...] Read more.
The effectiveness of biochar amendment for remediation purposes depends on many factors related to the biochar and the contaminated site. Therefore, each application must be evaluated site-specifically. To facilitate full-scale implementation, more information from field studies on biochar-amended contaminated sites, as well as cost-effective approaches to evaluate the remediation efficacy of specific biochar materials are needed. We studied the effects of biochar and peat on metal solubility and bioavailability in a contaminated soil in a fully factorial field trial. The biochar was produced from wood via gasification in a floating fixed-bed reactor at 750 °C. Soil solutions from field-installed lysimeters, grass (Lolium perenne L), and earthworms (Eisenia fetida) were analyzed. In addition, a standardized batch leaching test (ISO 21268-2:2019) was performed to evaluate its feasibility to mimic soil solution concentrations. The results showed that biochar generally reduced the solubility and uptake of cationic metals. In situ solubility of Cu and Hg was reduced more than 80%, and Zn up to 70%. Soil solution concentrations of Cr increased in biochar-amended soils, but this effect was reduced by peat. Peat had small effects on in situ solubility of other metals. For cations, the batch test showed the same trends as the soil solution, with biochar decreasing solubility. However, mobilization of colloids during shaking in the batch test induced artefacts, leading to an overestimation of the solubility of some metals, especially Pb and Hg, an effect that was enhanced by peat applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biochar as an Environmental Technology)
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