Biochar Production and Phosphorus Recovery from Wastewater and Sludge
This community develops carbon-rich materials from agricultural waste and sewage sludge to remove and recover phosphorus and heavy metals from water and soil.
The work centers on producing biochar through pyrolysis or hydrothermal carbonization of biomass like rice husk and sewage sludge. These materials are then modified with metals such as magnesium, iron, or lanthanum to enhance their ability to adsorb phosphate ions and immobilize heavy metals like cadmium and lead. A significant portion of the research focuses on recovering phosphorus as a nutrient from wastewater and sludge, while also addressing the removal of nitrogen and other contaminants. The methods range from simple adsorption in aqueous solutions to complex layered double hydroxide composites, aiming to treat polluted water and remediate contaminated soils simultaneously.
The largest share of the community's output is found in phosphorus research, accounting for 2.8% of all tracked phosphorus studies, and 9,593 papers here. Nitrogen research also features prominently, with 4,916 papers representing 0.8% of that element's total research.
The community comprises 22,400 papers, with the highest publication volumes in Chemical Engineering Journal, Chemosphere, and Bioresource Technology.
Recent work continues to focus on optimizing biochar production techniques and modifying these materials for dual-function applications, such as simultaneous heavy metal immobilization and soil fertility improvement. New studies are also exploring the use of machine learning to optimize phosphate adsorption on advanced materials like metal-organic frameworks and layered double hydroxides.