Biochar Production: Recent Developments, Applications, and challenges

Lignocellulosic biomass has attracted an extraordinary amount of attention because of its high availability and low price as one of the sustainable and renewable resources for producing valuable products, such as biochar. This study reviews latest research on biochar production through the pyrolysis process and its applications. Technologies based on pyrolysis, such as mild & fast pyrolysis, gasification, are promising strategies for converting lignocellulosic biomass to materials with high added value (biochar, bio-oil, biogas, etc.). Biochar is capable of controlling climate fluctuations through carbon sequestration. Another unique feature of this material is its ability to increase soil fertility, improve soil, and increase agricultural yield; therefore, soils have the best fertility in areas where biochar is present. The use of pyrolysis (under controlled and optimal conditions) can produce quality biochar that finds numerous applications in various fields. According to the research conducted on biochar production processes, the highest percentage of biochar with a percentage above 35 is related to the torrefaction process and after that pyrolysis and gasification with approximate percentages of 12–34 and 10%, respectively.