Contribution to waste valorisation by producing biochars for different environmental purposes

Abstract

Within the context of global change, the growing world population is placing ever-increasing demands on food and energy resources while also generating huge amounts of waste that are often not managed properly. Pyrolysis of waste materials to produce biochar is an excellent and suitable means of supporting a circular bio-based economy. Biochar is a solid material produced by the thermal decomposition of biomass in the absence of oxygen, which has a high organic C content and is highly resistant to decomposition. This research evaluated the potential use of biochar to address environmental problems, such as global change, by improving soil properties, decontaminating degraded areas and reducing the C footprint of industrial processes.