Surface Treatment of Biochar—Methods, Surface Analysis and Potential Applications: A Comprehensive Review
Marlena Gęca,
Ahmed M. Khalil,
Mengqi Tang,
Arvind K. Bhakta,
Youssef Snoussi,
Piotr Nowicki,
Małgorzata Wiśniewska,
Mohamed M. Chehimi
Affiliations
Marlena Gęca
Department of Radiochemistry and Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Chemistry, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin, M. Curie-Skłodowska Sq. 3, 20-031 Lublin, Poland
Ahmed M. Khalil
Photochemistry Department, National Research Centre, Dokki, Giza 12622, Egypt
Mengqi Tang
ITODYS (UMR 7086), CNRS, Université Paris Cité, 75013 Paris, France
Arvind K. Bhakta
ITODYS (UMR 7086), CNRS, Université Paris Cité, 75013 Paris, France
Youssef Snoussi
ITODYS (UMR 7086), CNRS, Université Paris Cité, 75013 Paris, France
Piotr Nowicki
Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 8, 61-614 Poznań, Poland
Małgorzata Wiśniewska
Department of Radiochemistry and Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Chemistry, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin, M. Curie-Skłodowska Sq. 3, 20-031 Lublin, Poland
Mohamed M. Chehimi
ITODYS (UMR 7086), CNRS, Université Paris Cité, 75013 Paris, France
In recent years, biochar has emerged as a remarkable biosourced material for addressing global environmental, agricultural, biomedical, and energy challenges. However, the performances of biochar rest in part on finely tuning its surface chemical properties, intended to obtain specific functionalities. In this review, we tackle the surface treatment of biochar with silane and other coupling agents such as diazonium salts, titanates, ionic/non-ionic surfactants, as well as nitrogen-containing (macro)molecules. We summarize the recent progress achieved mostly in the last five years and correlate the nature and extent of functionalization to eye-catchy end applications of the surface-engineered biochar.
