Pros and Cons of Biochar to Soil Potentially Toxic Element Mobilization and Phytoavailability: Environmental Implications
Sabry M. Shaheen, Ahmed Mosa, Natasha Natasha, Parimala Gnana Soundari Arockiam Jeyasundar, Noha E.E. Hassan, Xing Yang, Vasileios Antoniadis, Ronghua Li, Jianxu Wang, Tao Zhang, Nabeel Khan Niazi, Muhammad Shahid, Gaurav Sharma, Daniel S. Alessi, Meththika Vithanage, Zeng‐Yei Hseu, Ajit K. Sarmah, Binoy Sarkar, Zengqiang Zhang, Deyi Hou, Bin Gao, Hailong Wang, Nanthi Bolan, Jörg Rinklebe
Abstract
Abstract While the potential of biochar (BC) to immobilize potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in contaminated soils has been studied and reviewed, no review has focused on the potential use of BC for enhancing the phytoremediation efficacy of PTE-contaminated soils. Consequently, the overarching purpose in this study is to critically review the effects of BC on the mobilization, phytoextraction, phytostabilization, and bioremediation of PTEs in contaminated soils. Potential mechanisms of the interactions between BC and PTEs in soils are also reviewed in detail. We discuss the promises and challenges of various approaches, including potential environmental implications, of BC application to PTE-contaminated soils. The properties of BC (e.g., surface functional groups, mineral content, ionic content, and π-electrons) govern its impact on the (im)mobilization of PTEs, which is complex and highly element-specific. This review demonstrates the contrary effects of BC on PTE mobilization and highlights possible opportunities for using BC as a mobilizing agent for enhancing phytoremediation of PTEs-contaminated soils.