Thematic issue: advances in biochar production, characterization, and use

Biochar production surfaces to be a single-step solution for two major problems faced by the mankind—fossil fuel crisis and pollution due to extensive waste generation/accumulation. Thermochemical conversion of waste biomass leads to the production of value-added products like biochar, bio-oil, and biogas. Biochar production involves methods like slow pyrolysis/torrefaction, hydrothermal carbonization, etc. Recent advancements in thermochemical conversion technologies like microwave-assisted pyrolysis/torrefaction, plasma pyrolysis, etc. lead to the novel methodologies in biochar production and its modification. Alongside co-pyrolysis of biomass waste with plastics and other wastes, catalytic pyrolysis, catalytic co-pyrolysis, integrated/hybrid thermochemical conversion technologies, etc. received significant attention in these recent days. Biochar has wide range of applications—thanks to its unique properties like higher surface area, greater energy content, presence of surface functional groups, etc. compared to its biomass counterpart. Correspondingly, the multiple applications ranges from soil amendment, carbon sequestration, air pollution control, wastewater treatment, to fossil fuel replacement. Such applications require well-defined characterization of the biochar. The selection of biomass and optimization of operating conditions play a pivotal role in production of biochar with required features for various applications. The characteristic co-relation of biochar with corresponding feedstock, operating conditions, etc. and techno-economic analysis provide deeper understanding on the required modifications to enhance the applicability of the biochar. This understanding would propel the up-scaling of these novel technologies from laboratory to pilot scale and commercial scale further. …