Title : Catalytic potential of biochar derived from heavy-metal-contaminated biomass
Abstract:
Plant-Assisted Bioremediation (PABR) represents an eco-friendly strategy for the remediation and valorization of contaminated soils. This approach exploits fast-growing plants capable of extracting pollutants from the soil, offering a sustainable and low-impact alternative to conventional soil-cleaning methods. However, a major challenge associated with PABR is the generation of contaminated plant residues, whose safe disposal remains a topic of scientific and environmental concern. In this context, PABR biomass gasification emerges as a promising solution, enabling both the production of renewable energy and the confinement of the majority of pollutants within the residual solid fraction: the biochar. This dual advantage not only reduces the environmental footprint of residue management but also creates opportunities for biochar valorization. The present study investigates the potential of biochar obtained from PABR residues as a catalytic material. Biochar inherently exhibits distinctive physicochemical properties—such as high surface area, porosity, and functionalized surfaces—that make it an attractive candidate for catalytic applications. In conventional approaches, biochar is often used as a support for metal deposition in heterogeneous catalysis. Conversely, biochar derived from PABR residues offers an intrinsic catalytic advantage, as the plants naturally accumulate catalytically active metals during the phytoremediation process, which are subsequently enriched in the biochar matrix after gasification. In this work, PABR-derived biochar was produced and subjected to a comprehensive physicochemical characterization, including elemental composition, surface area analysis, and metal content determination, to assess its potential as a catalytic material. The study provides insights into the interplay between soil remediation, biomass valorization, and catalytic applications, suggesting that the integration of PABR and gasification could establish a circular and sustainable approach for the management of contaminated soils and associated biomass residues. This research highlights the dual benefit of combining environmental remediation with the generation of high-value materials, positioning PABR-derived biochar as a promising resource for future green catalytic processes.
