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Evaluating The Potential Of Biochar For Reducing Bioavailable Heavy Metal Fractions In Polluted Soil, Rosa I. Soria, Raisa Tjarinto, Stephen A. Rolfe, Steven F. Thornton

Biochar: Production, Characterization and Applications

Previous studies have proposed biochar as a natural adsorbent material with potential to be used in the remediation of polluted soils. Its application for adsorption of pollutants may reduce the bioavailability of harmful compounds in the soil media by limiting its chemical distribution and reducing the risk of uptake by organisms. Therefore, biochar has been suggested for the attenuation of heavy metals (HMs) in soil, minimizing the possibility of accumulation through the trophic chain (Figure ).

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Developing Biosensors As Monitoring Tools To Assess The Performance Of Biochar Amended Contaminated Soil, Bastian Saputra, Stephen Rolfe, Steve Thornton

Biochar: Production, Characterization and Applications

The application of biochar as a soil amendment is an emerging technique for low-cost remediation of contaminated soil. The high porosity and large surface area of biochar make it suitable for adsorption of contaminants such as heavy metals (HMs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Adsorption reduces the bio-availability of contaminants to soil microorganisms thus potentially increasing soil function and productivity. Many different biochars are available which differ in key properties such as contaminant adsorption and stability. To assess biochar performance as a soil amendment we will develop bacterial biosensors to measure contaminant bioavailability and toxicity at a cellular level. Biosensors …