Yes it does offer a promising alternative to conventional phytoremediation...

Yes....it can be..and by activation process the efficiency of SSBs can be improved.

For sure it can. But it also depends on which conditions you play with (which kind of metals and concentrations) in combination with the activation processes. It can be also the case that you could combine both phytoremediation and use biochar as co-substrate in order to use the mechanism removal of both.

Dear Fabio Kaczala

If i use only biochar without both phytoremdiation. we can now remove heavy metal from soil and save human health !!!

It probably would be a proper method in many cases but I think more studied should be done!

Best regards

Yes

Hi,

In my opinion, you must first test your biochar and the method of

phytoremediation to be able to know if it's better or not.

However, before testing this biochar, it's necessary to analyze its composition because it is known that heavy metals can exist in its chemical composition.

Interesting Sofia..

The conversion of sewage sludge into biochar reduces polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon content and ecotoxicity but increases trace metal content

Abstract

The presence of contaminants considerably restricts the application of sewage sludge for the fertilisation and reclamation of soils. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous in the environment and vary widely in sewage sludge depending on the input of industrial effluents. The objective of the study was the investigation whether the pyrolysis affect (reduces or adds) the total quantity of PAHs in sewage sludge-derived biochars and whether the pyrolysis changes the PAHs spectrum in terms of relative contributions of more hazardous components. Additionally, the trace metal content was determined before and after pyrolysis as well as the ecotoxicological parameters test towards plant (Lepidium sativum), bacteria (Vibrio fischeri) and crustacean (Daphnia magna). Sewage sludges conversion to biochar significantly reduced the content of PAHs (from 8- to 25-fold depending on pyrolysis temperature and kind of sludge). The exception was the content of naphthalene. Naphthalene was predominant in sewage sludge-derived biochars. However the concentration of the most hazardous 5- and 6-rings PAHs in sewage sludge-derived biochars was much lower compared to sewage sludge. The pyrolysis of sewage sludges caused also a significant reduction of their toxicity towards the test organisms. Only in the case of crustacean it was observed that the extracts from some biochars, obtained at higher temperatures (600 °C and 700 °C) were more toxic to D. magna than extracts from sewage sludge. In turn, after pyrolysis an increase was noted for trace metals content (Pb, Cd, Zn, Cu, Ni and Cr). Source :

Biomass and Bioenergy

Volume 75, April 2015, Pages 235-244 , Article The conversion of sewage sludge into biochar reduces polycyc...

Hi, Anoop Kumar Srivastava

Thanks so much for your answer and for sending of abstract paper.

Yes, it was to be expected that the calcination for obtaining the biochar will not eliminate the heavy metals.

Best regards

Safia Taleb

You can't get a conclusive answer unless you conduct series of comparisons. First what is the composition of your biochar (sometimes may contain metals)? Plants used in phytoremediation are supposed to be non-edible, in order to ensure minimal or zero impact on humans and animals. Important parameter to consider is mechanism anticipated.