Life cycle assessment of biochar as a green sorbent for soil remediation
Ahmed I. Osman, Mohamed Farghali, Ahmed K. Rashwan
Abstract
The study explores the essential role of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) in assessing the environmental sustainability impacts of biochar as a green sorbent in soil remediation. Recent studies from 2021 to 2023 underscore biochar's potential for global warming mitigation and carbon sequestration. The review discusses various concerns related to biochar-to-soil LCA, including its effects on heavy metals and pesticides in soils, the necessity for additional research on application frequency for pollutant sorption, impacts on real/different soil carbon stocks, variability in biochar properties, limited long-term studies, potential health implications, and incomplete assessment of pollutant dynamics, considering different biochar production methods and soil surface albedo. Advocating for LCAs for other green sorbents, such as low-cost clay, chitosan, and green nano-sorbents, is essential. Additionally, the integration of multiple green remediation techniques is proposed to enhance overall efficiency in soil and environmental remediation practices.