Nanoporous carbonaceous materials (biochar and activated carbon): recent progress and potential applications for arsenic removal

Abstract

The study provides significant advances in the production and evaluation of biochar (BC) and activated carbon (AC) through the use of different precursors and conditions. It has been shown how the pore size distribution, surface area, and chemical functional groups of various materials affect their capacity to adsorb arsenic (As). Nanoporous carbonaceous materials (nP-CMs) have become the focus of great attention from researchers due to their excellent porous properties. These materials are expected to be used in a variety of new industrial applications that utilize ordered nanospace structures. They have excellent physicochemical properties and are inexpensive and environmentally friendly (low density, low thermal conductivity, nanoporous with large surface area, three-dimensional network structure, etc.). Numerous studies have examined the use of nP-CMs as an adsorbent in the removal of As by improving properties including biocompatibility, stability, charge density, functionality, surface area, etc. An extensive summary of the removal of As(III) and As(V) using nano BC/AC made from different plant wastes was included in this paper. The potential interaction processes between As and nP-CMs were addressed. nBC/AC modified with different metals or metal oxides are one of the most often used modifiers for As removal. The potential of nanoporous BC and AC to remove As from aquatic environments is discussed, which has been carefully analyzed in both recent and earlier findings. This review article emphasizes how critical it is to support research initiatives, increase public awareness, and encourage interdisciplinary cooperation in order to solve the environmental concerns related to As.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• Porous and nano-porous carbonaceous materials
• biochar
• activated carbon
• applications of nanomaterials
• arsenic removal

Acknowledgment

This research received no external funding.

Author contributions

Ş. P., M. B. and E. P. contributed equally to this work. Ş.P. wrote and edited the manuscript. E.P. and M. B made comprehensive revisions and supervision. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).