Development of Novel Biochar Materials for Land and Water Reclamation

A large area of the Athabasca oil sands region in northern Alberta has been surface mined, and  large volumes of process water produced from oil sands extraction and upgrading. To facilitate reclamation and remediation of this disturbed land and process water, novel reclamation materials need to be developed that are economical, can be made with readily available materials, and are efficient in removing contaminants. Biochar is one of those promising materials and can be used to remove contaminants from soil and water, rebuilding functional soils and returning water to the environment.


Biochar properties mainly depend on feedstock type and production conditions, including pyrolysis temperature and post activation treatment. To date, most studies have focused on efficiency of biochars produced under limited pyrolysis conditions and feedstock types on specific contaminant removal. Relationships among biochar properties, including contaminant removal capacity, feedstock types, and pyrolysis conditions need to be better understood if the optimum biochar for land and water reclamation and remediation is to be produced. Novel biochars that are effective for removal of multiple contaminants with high surface area and porosity and a variety of functional groups need to be developed through surface modification, including surface functional groups, charge, and pH modification, following biochar production.


Ideally the modified biochar should be used for process water remediation, then for land reclamation, rather than being landfilled. The impact of used biochar application on soil properties, plant growth, and greenhouse gas emission needs to be evaluated. Potential to desorb contaminants also needs to be addressed.

Alberta Graduate Excellence Award

Huile Gu

Award

Bern and Donna Kotelko Travel Award

Abhijeet Pathy

Award

Canadian Land Reclamation Association Student Award 2023

Abhijeet Pathy

Award

Donald A Shaw Memorial Graduate Scholarship

Abhijeet Pathy

Award

Doug Penney Award

Huile Gu

Award

Master of Science Recruitment Scholarship

Huile Gu

Award

Professor JB McQuitty Graduate Scholarship

Abhijeet Pathy

Award

University of Alberta Graduate Scholarship

Abhijeet Pathy

Award

Adsorption Of Heavy Metals By Biochar: Experimental And Literature Analyses

Huile Gu

Master Thesis

Baking and Water Treatment

Jin-Hyeob Kwak, Zuo Tong How

Other Event

Biochar Affects Compressive Strength Of Portland Cement Composites: A Meta-Analysis

Scott Chang, Ali El-Naggar, Zhihao Zhao

Peer-Reviewed Journal Article

Biochar And Its Uses In Soil And Water Remediation

M Anne Naeth, Scott Chang, Christopher Nzediegwu

Other Event

Biochar And Soil Properties Affect Remediation Of Zn Contamination By Biochar: A Global Meta-Analysis

Scott Chang, Ali El-Naggar

Peer-Reviewed Journal Article

Biochar Application In Forests: Effects On Soil Properties And Processes

Scott Chang

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

Biochar For Remediation Of Heavy Metals From Oil Sands Process Water

M Anne Naeth, Scott Chang, Abhijeet Pathy

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

Biochar Heavy Metal Removal In Aqueous Solution Depends On Feedstock Type And Pyrolysis Purging Gas

M Anne Naeth, Mohamed Gamal El-Din, Scott Chang, Jin-Hyeob Kwak, Siyuan Wang, Md Shahinoor Islam, Christopher Nzediegwu

Peer-Reviewed Journal Article

Biochar Modulating Soil Biological Health: A Review

Scott Chang, Ali El-Naggar

Peer-Reviewed Journal Article

Biochar Production From Lignocellulosic And Non-Lignocellulosic Biomass Using Conventional And Microwave Heating

M Anne Naeth, Scott Chang, Christopher Nzediegwu

Book

Biochar Properties And Lead(II) Adsorption Capacity Depend On Feedstock Type, Pyrolysis Temperature, And Steam Activation

M Anne Naeth, Mohamed Gamal El-Din, Scott Chang, Selamawit Messele, Jin-Hyeob Kwak, Siyuan Wang, Md Shahinoor Islam

Peer-Reviewed Journal Article

Biochar Property And Lead(II) Adsorption Capacity Depend On Feedstock Type, Pyrolysis Temperature, And Steam Activation

M Anne Naeth, Mohamed Gamal El-Din, Scott Chang, Jin-Hyeob Kwak, Siyuan Wang, Md Shahinoor Islam

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

Biochar Removes Lead(II) In Synthetic Wastewater Depending On Feedstock Type And Production Temperature

M Anne Naeth, Scott Chang, Christopher Nzediegwu

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

Biochar Seeding Properties Affect Struvite Crystallization For Soil Application

Hongbo Zeng, Scott Chang, Xiaohui Mao, Christopher Nzediegwu

Peer-Reviewed Journal Article

Biochar Surface Complexation And Heavy Metal Adsorption In Aqueous Solution Depend On Their Feedstock Type

M Anne Naeth, Mohamed Gamal El-Din, Scott Chang, Jin-Hyeob Kwak, Siyuan Wang, Md Shahinoor Islam

Other Event

Biochar Surface Complexation And Ni(II), Cu(II), And Cd(II) Adsorption In Aqueous Solutions Depend On Feedstock Type

M Anne Naeth, Mohamed Gamal El-Din, Scott Chang, Jin-Hyeob Kwak, Siyuan Wang, Md Shahinoor Islam

Peer-Reviewed Journal Article

Biochars Have A Greater Adsorption Capacity For Lead(II) From Aqueous Solutions Than Hydrochars

M Anne Naeth, Scott Chang, Christopher Nzediegwu, Yadi Tang

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

Biomass Conversion Method Controls Chemical, Fuel And Surface Properties Of Chars

M Anne Naeth, Scott Chang, Christopher Nzediegwu

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

Cadmium Stability In Spent Biochar In Electrolyte Solutions And Soils

M Anne Naeth, Scott Chang, Huile Gu, Christopher Nzediegwu

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

Carbonization Temperature And Feedstock Type Interactively Affect Chemical, Fuel, And Surface Properties Of Hydrochars

M Anne Naeth, Scott Chang, Christopher Nzediegwu

Peer-Reviewed Journal Article

Carboxyl And Hydroxyl Groups Enhance Ammonium Adsorption Capacity Of Iron (III) Chloride And Hydrochloric Acid Modified Biochars

Scott Chang, Jin-Hyeob Kwak, Siyuan Wang, Md Shahinoor Islam, Christopher Nzediegwu

Peer-Reviewed Journal Article

Characterizing And Optimizing Biochars For Contaminant Removal From Wastewater

M Anne Naeth, Mohamed Gamal El-Din, Scott Chang, Jin-Hyeob Kwak, Siyuan Wang, Md Shahinoor Islam

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

Coexistence Of Polyethylene Microplastics And Biochar Increases Ammonium Sorption In An Aqueous Solution

Scott Chang

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

Developing Novel Materials For Reclamation And Remediation Of Land And Water

M Anne Naeth, Mohamed Gamal El-Din, Scott Chang, Jin-Hyeob Kwak

Conference Proceedings

Development Of Biomass-Based Adsorbents For Remediation Of Soil And Water

Christopher Nzediegwu

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

Development Of Hydrochar For The Treatment Of Oil Sands Process Water

M Anne Naeth, Scott Chang, Christopher Nzediegwu

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

Effectiveness Of Biochar In Adsorbing Heavy Metals In Wastewater

Abhijeet Pathy

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

Effects Of Feedstock Type, Pyrolysis Temperature, And Steam Activation On Biochar Properties And Lead (II) Adsorption

M Anne Naeth, Mohamed Gamal El-Din, Scott Chang, Jin-Hyeob Kwak, Siyuan Wang, Md Shahinoor Islam

Conference Proceedings

Effects Of Feedstock Type, Pyrolysis Temperature, And Steam Activation On Biochar Properties And Lead(II) Adsorption

M Anne Naeth, Mohamed Gamal El-Din, Scott Chang, Selamawit Messele, Jin-Hyeob Kwak, Siyuan Wang, Md Shahinoor Islam

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

Effects Of Feedstock Type, Pyrolysis Temperature, And Steam Activation On Biochar Properties And Lead(II) Adsorption

M Anne Naeth, Mohamed Gamal El-Din, Scott Chang, Selamawit Messele, Jin-Hyeob Kwak, Siyuan Wang, Md Shahinoor Islam

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

Effects Of Feedstock, Pyrolysis Temperature, And Activation On Biochar Properties And Pb (II) Adsorption

M Anne Naeth, Mohamed Gamal El-Din, Scott Chang, Jin-Hyeob Kwak, Siyuan Wang, Md Shahinoor Islam

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

Effects Of Nitric Acid Modification On Hydrochar’s Combustion, Fuel And Thermal Properties Are Dependent On Feedstock Type

M Anne Naeth, Scott Chang, Christopher Nzediegwu

Peer-Reviewed Journal Article

Elemental Composition Of Biochars Is Affected By Methods Used For Its Determination

M Anne Naeth, Scott Chang, Christopher Nzediegwu

Peer-Reviewed Journal Article

Energy Explorers Connects Research With Families

Jerico Fiestas Flores, Abhijeet Pathy

Interview (Broadcast or Text)

Feedstock Type And Production Method Are Crucial In Reengineering Waste To High Value Products

M Anne Naeth, Scott Chang, Christopher Nzediegwu

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

Feedstock Type And Pyrolysis Temperature Drive Properties Of Activated And Non-Activated Biochars

M Anne Naeth, Scott Chang, Christopher Nzediegwu

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

Feedstock Type And Temperature Used For Hydrothermal Processing Affect Hydrochar And Liquid-Phase Properties

M Anne Naeth, Scott Chang, Christopher Nzediegwu, Yadi Tang

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

Feedstock Type Drives Lead(II) Adsorption On Microwave-Pyrolyzed Biochars In Aqueous Solutions More Than Pyrolysis Temperature

M Anne Naeth, Scott Chang, Christopher Nzediegwu, Yadi Tang

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

Feedstock Type Drives Surface Property, Demineralization And Element Leaching Of Nitric Acid-Activated Biochars More Than Pyrolysis Temperature

M Anne Naeth, Scott Chang, Christopher Nzediegwu

Peer-Reviewed Journal Article

Feedstock Type Rather Than Carbonization Temperature Drives The Effect Of Nitric Acid Modification On Hydrochar’s Combustion, Fuel And Thermal Properties

M Anne Naeth, Scott Chang, Christopher Nzediegwu

Peer-Reviewed Journal Article

Fuel, Thermal And Surface Properties Of Microwave-Pyrolyzed Biochars Depend On Feedstock Type And Pyrolysis Temperature

M Anne Naeth, Scott Chang, Aman Ullah, Muhammad Arshad, Christopher Nzediegwu

Peer-Reviewed Journal Article

Generalized Additive Models Predict Biochar Elemental Composition Determined By Different Methods

M Anne Naeth, Scott Chang, Christopher Nzediegwu

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

Hydrochar And Liquid-Phase Properties Depend On Feedstock Type And Temperature Used For Hydrothermal Processing

M Anne Naeth, Scott Chang, Christopher Nzediegwu, Yadi Tang

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

Hydrochar As A Potential Adsorbent For Reclaiming Contaminated Soils: An Insight From pH And Electrical Conductivity

M Anne Naeth, Scott Chang, Christopher Nzediegwu

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

Hydrochar: A Carbon-Rich Material To Treat Process Water

M Anne Naeth, Scott Chang, Christopher Nzediegwu

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

Improper Solid Waste Management Increases Potential For COVID-19 Spread In Developing Countries

Scott Chang, Christopher Nzediegwu

Peer-Reviewed Journal Article

Interactive Effect Of Feedstock Type And Production Temperature On Hydrochar Adsorption Capacity For Lead In Aqueous Solutions

M Anne Naeth, Scott Chang, Christopher Nzediegwu

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

Lead-Saturated Biochar-Soil Interactions: Contamination Risks And Release Dynamics Of Lead

M Anne Naeth, Scott Chang, Christopher Nzediegwu, Ali El-Naggar

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

Lead-Saturated Biochar-Soil Interactions: Contamination Risks And Release Dynamics Of Pb

M Anne Naeth, Scott Chang, Christopher Nzediegwu, Ali El-Naggar

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

Modifying Biochar Properties For Environmental Applications

Scott Chang

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

Monovalent−Divalent Element Quotient Drives Lead(Ii) Removal in Aqueous Solutions by Nitric Acid-Modified Biochar

M Anne Naeth, Scott Chang, Christopher Nzediegwu

Peer-Reviewed Journal Article

Nature Forum On Plastics And Sustainability

Christopher Nzediegwu

Misc: Forum discussion

Optimizing Biochar Properties For Environmental Applications

Scott Chang

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

Pb-saturated Biochar-Soil Interactions: Contamination Risks And Release Dynamics Of Pb

M Anne Naeth, Scott Chang, Christopher Nzediegwu, Ali El-Naggar

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

Production Conditions Affect Hydrochar’s Value As Solid Fuels

M Anne Naeth, Scott Chang, Christopher Nzediegwu

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

Progress In Biochar And Hydrochar Syntheses For Soil And Water Remediation

M Anne Naeth, Mohamed Gamal El-Din, Aman Ullah, Jin-Hyeob Kwak, Siyuan Wang, Md Shahinoor Islam, Na Chen, Huile Gu, Christopher Nzediegwu, Yadi Tang

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

Remediation Of Heavy Metals From Oil Sands Process Water Using Canola Straw Biochar

M Anne Naeth, Scott Chang, Abhijeet Pathy

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

Remediation Of Trace Metals In Oil Sands Process Water Using Nano Humus

M Anne Naeth, Yihan Zhao

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

Researchers Are Refining Recipes For Biochar That Benefits Industry And The Environment

M Anne Naeth, Scott Chang

Interview (Broadcast or Text)