title: Biochar-based nano-composites for the decontamination of wastewater: A review.
abstract: Synthesizing biochar-based nano-composites can obtain new composites and combine the advantages of biochar with nano-materials. The resulting composites usually exhibit great improvement in functional groups, pore properties, surface active sites, catalytic degradation ability and easy to separation. These composites have excellent abilities to adsorb a range of contaminants from aqueous solutions. Particularly, catalytic material-coated biochar can exert simultaneous adsorption and catalytic degradation function for organic contaminants removal. Synthesizing biochar-based nano-composites has become an important practice for expanding the environmental applications of biochar and nanotechnology. This paper aims to review and summarize the various synthesis techniques for biochar-based nano-composites and their effects on the decontamination of wastewater. The characteristic and advantages of existing synthesis methods are summarized and discussed. Application of biochar-based nano-composites for different contaminants removal and the underlying mechanisms are reviewed. Furthermore, knowledge gaps that exist in the fabrication and application of biochar-based nano-composites are also identified.
authors.affiliation: College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, PR China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Hunan University), Ministry of Education, Changsha 410082, PR China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Fei
authors.initials: XF
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.affiliation: College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, PR China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Hunan University), Ministry of Education, Changsha 410082, PR China. Electronic address: hnuliuyunguo@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Yun-Guo
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, PR China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Hunan University), Ministry of Education, Changsha 410082, PR China.
authors.forename: Yan-Ling
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.affiliation: College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, PR China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Hunan University), Ministry of Education, Changsha 410082, PR China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, PR China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Hunan University), Ministry of Education, Changsha 410082, PR China.
authors.forename: Guang-Ming
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.affiliation: College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, PR China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Hunan University), Ministry of Education, Changsha 410082, PR China; College of Environmental Science and Engineering Research, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, PR China.
authors.forename: Xin-Jiang
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: School of Architecture and Art, Central South University, Changsha 410082, PR China; School of Metallurgy and Environment, Central South University, Changsha 410083, PR China.
authors.forename: Shao-Bo
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: College of Resources and Environmental Science, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410082, PR China.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, PR China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Hunan University), Ministry of Education, Changsha 410082, PR China.
authors.forename: Si-Mian
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, PR China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Hunan University), Ministry of Education, Changsha 410082, PR China.
authors.forename: Jiang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D002606:Charcoal / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D006878:Hydroxides / Q000737:chemistry; D008280:Magnetics; D008670:Metals / Q000737:chemistry; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods*; D062065:Wastewater / Q000737:chemistry; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D002606:Charcoal; D006878:Hydroxides; D008670:Metals; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D062065:Wastewater; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C540010:biochar
keywords: Adsorption; Biochar; Catalytic degradation; Nano-composites; Synthesis; Wastewater