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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Auburn, Alabama » Soil Dynamics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #412842
Research Project: Sustaining Productivity and Ecosystem Services of Agricultural and Horticultural Systems in the Southeastern United States

Location: Soil Dynamics Research

Title: Harnessing biochar for nitrate removal from contaminated soil and water environments: Practical implications, practical feasibility, and future perspectives

Author
item KUMAR, RAKESH - Auburn University
item RAHMAN, ATIQUR - Auburn University
item LAMBA, JASMEET - Auburn University
item ADHIKARI, SUSHIL - Auburn University
item Torbert Iii, Henry

Submitted to: Biochar
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/22/2025
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Nitrate (NO3-) is an inorganic nitrogen ion associates with agricultural which is significantly abundant in groundwater and soil. Excessive NO3- concentrations in water and soil ecosystems disrupt the natural environment and, in drinking water, can cause severe health effects. This comprehensive review emphasizes NO3- removal using raw/modified biochar for wastewater treatment and sand amended with biochar for NO3- management in soil. Practical applications of various biochar in NO3- removal were investigated via real/natural contaminated groundwater and wastewater treatment, integrating biochar in constructed wetlands, and in-situ application. Lastly, this review concludes with cost-benefit and performance cost analysis and future perspectives and recommendations for NO3- removal using biochar.

Technical Abstract: Nitrate (NO3-) is one of the inorganic nitrogen ions sourced from anthropogenic activities, like agricultural and industrial actions, significantly abundant in groundwater and soil. Excessive NO3- concentrations in water and soil ecosystems disrupt the natural environment and, in drinking water, can cause severe health effects. This review emphasizes NO3- removal using raw/modified biochar for wastewater treatment and sand amended with biochar for NO3- management in soil. A comprehensive review has summarized physicochemical properties of raw/modified biochar and various factors, like biochar dosage, environmental chemistry, NO3- concentration, and temperature, which govern NO3- adsorption via batch and column sorption experiments. NO3- adsorption via surface adsorption, liquid film diffusion, and intraparticle diffusion due to abundant positive surface charge density onto biochar surfaces, which encourages NO3- attraction electronically. Practical applications of various biochar in NO3- removal were investigated via real/natural contaminated groundwater and wastewater treatment, integrating biochar in constructed wetlands, and in-situ application. Lastly, this review concludes with cost-benefit and performance cost analysis and future perspectives and recommendations for NO3- removal using biochar.