ABSTRACT
Wastewater recycling and management are constantly emerging as the most viable and economic solutions to the gigantic problem of water pollution. The application of biochars in wastewater treatment has proved to be an effective method for the removal of a wide variety of existing and emerging pollutants of different categories like heavy metals, organic and inorganic contaminants, pathogens, radioactive materials, etc. Biochar is carbon-rich material that is obtained by the thermal transformation of biomass obtained from any biological source, and several methods have been investigated to improve the selectivity and efficiency of biochars. Major aspects affecting their large-scale application are the material cost, performance and stability of adsorbents under different conditions, the presence of co-contaminants, and sustainability. Pros and cons of biochar utilization need to be evaluated for the development of a new water treatment technology. This chapter focuses on the different methods developed so far for biochar modification and various applications of such modified biochars. In addition, a critical discussion of the future scope of biochar utilization for commercial wastewater treatment and management is presented herein.
