Biochar production, activation, and applications: A comprehensive technical review

Lisa Mingzhe Sun; Sean R. McIntyre; Paul Iacomi; Katie Everden; Paul T. Williams; Shuang Zong; Xinying Liu; Xiefei Zhu; Yanke Yang; Shuangjun Li; Gang Wu; Fei Huang; Lina Liu; Xiangzhou Yuan; Huiyan Zhang; Junjie Zhang; Haiping Yang; Wei Chen; Hongman Sun; Yang Cao; Dongdong Feng; Zhenyu Cheng; Xiong Zhang; Daxin Liang; Shengkai Liu; Xiaoxiao Zhang; Xiaohong Zhu; Ye Shui Zhang; Yongliang Yan; Jianrui Zha; Yuanting Qiao; Salman Masoudi Soltani; Ning Zhang; Shouliang Yi; Chunfei Wu

doi:10.1016/j.ccst.2025.100421

Biochar production, activation, and applications: A comprehensive technical review

Lisa Mingzhe Sun
, Sean R. McIntyre
, Paul Iacomi
, Katie Everden
, Paul T. Williams^*
, Shuang Zong
, Xinying Liu
, Xiefei Zhu
, Yanke Yang
, Shuangjun Li
, Gang Wu
, Fei Huang
, Lina Liu
, Xiangzhou Yuan
, Huiyan Zhang
, Junjie Zhang
, Haiping Yang
, Wei Chen
, Hongman Sun
, Yang Cao

Dongdong Feng, Zhenyu Cheng, Xiong Zhang, Daxin Liang, Shengkai Liu, Xiaoxiao Zhang, Xiaohong Zhu, Ye Shui Zhang, Yongliang Yan, Jianrui Zha, Yuanting Qiao, Salman Masoudi Soltani, Ning Zhang, Shouliang Yi, Chunfei Wu

^*Corresponding author for this work

Surface Measurement Systems Ltd.
University of Leeds
University of South Africa
Hebei Chemical & Pharmaceutical College
Sun Yat-Sen University
Korea University
Southeast University, Nanjing
Nankai University
Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Nanjing Agricultural University
China University of Petroleum (East China)
School of Energy Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology
Northeast Forestry University
Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Beijing University of Technology
University of Aberdeen
Newcastle University
Hefei University of Technology
Swansea University
Brunel University London
Columbia University
University of Pittsburgh
Queen's University Belfast

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

29 Scopus citations

Abstract

Our planet has been facing critical challenges since the late 20th century, including climate change, resource shortages, environmental degradation and pollution, demanding urgent and sustainable solutions. Biochar, a carbon-rich material produced via biomass pyrolysis, has gained attention for its great potentials in environmental remediation, pollutant removals, carbon neutrality, soil amendment, building materials, and etc. The performance of biochar in these applications is closely linked to its physicochemical properties, which are influenced by the feedstock and the preparation/activation methods. This paper reviews a wide range of biochar produced from various feedstocks, and the associated performance in different applications. Advanced characterisations are discussed to unveil the fundamental mechanisms and provide insights for further improvement and optimization. The techno-economic analysis evaluates the feasibility, challenges, and opportunities for scaling up and adopting biochar in potential applications. By focusing on biochar's multifunctionality and sustainability, this paper provides a reference for future research on developing biochar as a green technology with environmental and economic benefits.

Original language	English
Article number	100421
Journal	Carbon Capture Science and Technology
Volume	16
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ccst.2025.100421
State	Published - Sep 2025
Externally published	Yes

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 13 Climate Action

Keywords

Biochar characterisation
Biochar production
Carbon neutrality
Environmental remediation, Soil amendments
Pollutant removal
Techno-economic analysis

Access to Document

10.1016/j.ccst.2025.100421

Cite this

Sun, L. M., McIntyre, S. R., Iacomi, P., Everden, K., Williams, P. T., Zong, S., Liu, X., Zhu, X., Yang, Y., Li, S., Wu, G., Huang, F., Liu, L., Yuan, X., Zhang, H., Zhang, J., Yang, H., Chen, W., Sun, H., ... Wu, C. (2025). Biochar production, activation, and applications: A comprehensive technical review. Carbon Capture Science and Technology, 16, Article 100421. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ccst.2025.100421

@article{cf3d718e648b4991af258fa4139db18f,

title = "Biochar production, activation, and applications: A comprehensive technical review",

abstract = "Our planet has been facing critical challenges since the late 20th century, including climate change, resource shortages, environmental degradation and pollution, demanding urgent and sustainable solutions. Biochar, a carbon-rich material produced via biomass pyrolysis, has gained attention for its great potentials in environmental remediation, pollutant removals, carbon neutrality, soil amendment, building materials, and etc. The performance of biochar in these applications is closely linked to its physicochemical properties, which are influenced by the feedstock and the preparation/activation methods. This paper reviews a wide range of biochar produced from various feedstocks, and the associated performance in different applications. Advanced characterisations are discussed to unveil the fundamental mechanisms and provide insights for further improvement and optimization. The techno-economic analysis evaluates the feasibility, challenges, and opportunities for scaling up and adopting biochar in potential applications. By focusing on biochar's multifunctionality and sustainability, this paper provides a reference for future research on developing biochar as a green technology with environmental and economic benefits.",

keywords = "Biochar characterisation, Biochar production, Carbon neutrality, Environmental remediation, Soil amendments, Pollutant removal, Techno-economic analysis",

author = "Sun, \{Lisa Mingzhe\} and McIntyre, \{Sean R.\} and Paul Iacomi and Katie Everden and Williams, \{Paul T.\} and Shuang Zong and Xinying Liu and Xiefei Zhu and Yanke Yang and Shuangjun Li and Gang Wu and Fei Huang and Lina Liu and Xiangzhou Yuan and Huiyan Zhang and Junjie Zhang and Haiping Yang and Wei Chen and Hongman Sun and Yang Cao and Dongdong Feng and Zhenyu Cheng and Xiong Zhang and Daxin Liang and Shengkai Liu and Xiaoxiao Zhang and Xiaohong Zhu and Zhang, \{Ye Shui\} and Yongliang Yan and Jianrui Zha and Yuanting Qiao and Soltani, \{Salman Masoudi\} and Ning Zhang and Shouliang Yi and Chunfei Wu",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2025 The Authors",

year = "2025",

month = sep,

doi = "10.1016/j.ccst.2025.100421",

language = "英语",

volume = "16",

journal = "Carbon Capture Science and Technology",

issn = "2772-6568",

publisher = "Elsevier Ltd",

}

Sun, LM, McIntyre, SR, Iacomi, P, Everden, K, Williams, PT, Zong, S, Liu, X, Zhu, X, Yang, Y, Li, S, Wu, G, Huang, F, Liu, L, Yuan, X, Zhang, H, Zhang, J, Yang, H, Chen, W, Sun, H, Cao, Y, Feng, D, Cheng, Z, Zhang, X, Liang, D, Liu, S, Zhang, X, Zhu, X, Zhang, YS, Yan, Y, Zha, J, Qiao, Y, Soltani, SM, Zhang, N, Yi, S & Wu, C 2025, 'Biochar production, activation, and applications: A comprehensive technical review', Carbon Capture Science and Technology, vol. 16, 100421. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ccst.2025.100421

TY - JOUR

T1 - Biochar production, activation, and applications

T2 - A comprehensive technical review

AU - Sun, Lisa Mingzhe

AU - McIntyre, Sean R.

AU - Iacomi, Paul

AU - Everden, Katie

AU - Williams, Paul T.

AU - Zong, Shuang

AU - Liu, Xinying

AU - Zhu, Xiefei

AU - Yang, Yanke

AU - Li, Shuangjun

AU - Wu, Gang

AU - Huang, Fei

AU - Liu, Lina

AU - Yuan, Xiangzhou

AU - Zhang, Huiyan

AU - Zhang, Junjie

AU - Yang, Haiping

AU - Chen, Wei

AU - Sun, Hongman

AU - Cao, Yang

AU - Feng, Dongdong

AU - Cheng, Zhenyu

AU - Zhang, Xiong

AU - Liang, Daxin

AU - Liu, Shengkai

AU - Zhang, Xiaoxiao

AU - Zhu, Xiaohong

AU - Zhang, Ye Shui

AU - Yan, Yongliang

AU - Zha, Jianrui

AU - Qiao, Yuanting

AU - Soltani, Salman Masoudi

AU - Zhang, Ning

AU - Yi, Shouliang

AU - Wu, Chunfei

PY - 2025/9

Y1 - 2025/9

N2 - Our planet has been facing critical challenges since the late 20th century, including climate change, resource shortages, environmental degradation and pollution, demanding urgent and sustainable solutions. Biochar, a carbon-rich material produced via biomass pyrolysis, has gained attention for its great potentials in environmental remediation, pollutant removals, carbon neutrality, soil amendment, building materials, and etc. The performance of biochar in these applications is closely linked to its physicochemical properties, which are influenced by the feedstock and the preparation/activation methods. This paper reviews a wide range of biochar produced from various feedstocks, and the associated performance in different applications. Advanced characterisations are discussed to unveil the fundamental mechanisms and provide insights for further improvement and optimization. The techno-economic analysis evaluates the feasibility, challenges, and opportunities for scaling up and adopting biochar in potential applications. By focusing on biochar's multifunctionality and sustainability, this paper provides a reference for future research on developing biochar as a green technology with environmental and economic benefits.

AB - Our planet has been facing critical challenges since the late 20th century, including climate change, resource shortages, environmental degradation and pollution, demanding urgent and sustainable solutions. Biochar, a carbon-rich material produced via biomass pyrolysis, has gained attention for its great potentials in environmental remediation, pollutant removals, carbon neutrality, soil amendment, building materials, and etc. The performance of biochar in these applications is closely linked to its physicochemical properties, which are influenced by the feedstock and the preparation/activation methods. This paper reviews a wide range of biochar produced from various feedstocks, and the associated performance in different applications. Advanced characterisations are discussed to unveil the fundamental mechanisms and provide insights for further improvement and optimization. The techno-economic analysis evaluates the feasibility, challenges, and opportunities for scaling up and adopting biochar in potential applications. By focusing on biochar's multifunctionality and sustainability, this paper provides a reference for future research on developing biochar as a green technology with environmental and economic benefits.

KW - Biochar characterisation

KW - Biochar production

KW - Carbon neutrality

KW - Environmental remediation, Soil amendments

KW - Pollutant removal

KW - Techno-economic analysis

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105008180714

U2 - 10.1016/j.ccst.2025.100421

DO - 10.1016/j.ccst.2025.100421

M3 - 文献综述

AN - SCOPUS:105008180714

SN - 2772-6568

VL - 16

JO - Carbon Capture Science and Technology

JF - Carbon Capture Science and Technology

M1 - 100421

ER -

Biochar production, activation, and applications: A comprehensive technical review

Abstract

UN SDGs

Keywords

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