Using iron-modified biochar to adsorb phosphorus from eutrophic water and reusing it as a phosphorus fertilizer: A review

Abstract

Using Fe-modified biochar (Fe-B) to capture phosphorus in eutrophic water and then reusing it as a phosphorus fertilizer for agricultural production is a sustainable way to remediate surface water eutrophication and develop agriculture. However, the adsorption efficiency of Fe-modified biochar is influenced by a variety of factors including methods to produce biochar and surface water environment. In this review, we analyze different methods to manufacture Fe-B and their efficacy for phosphate adsorption. Other factors we analyzed include pH value, coexisting ions, biochar application rate, temperature which have shown to affect the capacity of Fe-B to adsorb phosphorus. We also discuss the potential of Fe-B and the phosphorus it adsorbed to be reused as a slow-release phosphorus fertilizer for agricultural production, as well as the perspective of Fe -modified biochar (Fe-B) and its applications.

Keywords

• fe-modified biochar
• eutrophic water
• phosphorus
• adsorption
• farmland