Arsenic Mitigation Potential of Biochar in Soil and Wastewater; A Review

Abstract

Arsenic (As) is a metalloid abundant in the earth crust and released by anthropogenic activities. It is a potent carcinogen that leads to several effects on human health. Mitigation strategies for cost-effective amputation of this metalloid from soil and groundwater need to be developed. Several treatment approaches for eliminating arsenic from water and soil such as sorption, ion exchange, phytoremediation, and membrane filtration were evaluated. Biochar, a form of charcoal pyrolyzed under low conditions of oxygen, is known as a multifunctional sorbent for removing contaminants from wastewater and soils. Biochar is capable of retaining arsenic from contaminated media including soil and water. Certain functional groups, porosity, and increased surface area are mechanisms for that retention. The biochar's potential to mitigate heavy metals in wastewater and soil is discussed in the current review.