Agricultural Biomass Waste to Biochar: A Review on Biochar Applications Using Machine Learning Approach and Circular Economy

Abstract

Biochar has gained attention as an alternative source of solid energy and for the proper disposal of agricultural biomass waste (ABW). Microwave-assisted pyrolysis (MAP) is a promising approach for the production of biochar. This review article presents the beneficial use of biochar for soil fertilization, machine learning (ML), the circular bioeconomy, and the technology readiness level. The use of machine learning techniques helps to design, predict, and optimize the process. It can also improve the accuracy and efficacy of the biochar production process, thereby reducing costs. Furthermore, the use of biochar as a soil amendment can be an attractive option for farmers. The incorporation of biochar into soil has been shown to improve soil fertility, water retention, and crop productivity. This can lead to reduced dependence on synthetic fertilizers and increased agricultural yields. The development of a biochar economy has the potential to create new job opportunities and increase the national gross domestic product (GDP). Small-scale enterprises can play a significant role in the production and distribution of biochar, providing value-added products and helping to promote sustainable agriculture.

Sustainable Technological Applications of Green Carbon Materials

“…Biochar is one of the biomass-based carbon materials that has been highly investigated. Biochar is a product of the valorization of feedstocks, like municipal organic waste and agri-industrial residues, through slow pyrolysis [28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37]. Thermal processes, like pyrolysis and carbonization, convert biomass into a carbon-rich microporous material with a well-developed porous structure, a highly specific surface area, and a high degree of aromatization (Figure 6) [28][29][30][31].…”

“…These features can be tuned using different raw materials and the technical characteristics of pyrolysis. Biochar is added to soil to modify its physical and chemical composition, microbial activity, soil fertility, and pollution load [28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37]. Carbon nanomaterials have another important role in agricultural practices, namely as nanocarriers for pesticides and fertilizers, allowing the controlled release of active molecules [20].…”

“…These features can be tuned using different raw materials and the technical characteristics of pyrolysis. Biochar is added to soil to modify its physical and chemical composition, microbial activity, soil fertility, and pollution load [28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37]. Biochar contains inorganic elements that are macronutrients, particularly N, P, and K, and micronutrients to plants; when added to soils, they will improve their fertility, resulting in high crop yields [28,29].…”

Sugarcane bagasse-based biochar and its potential applications: a review

“…This review highlights the significant role of pyrolysis in producing biochar from agricultural biomass waste, emphasizing its potential in greenhouse gas reduction. Additionally, it summarizes advancements in optimizing biochar yield using microwave-assisted pyrolysis 2023 [44] Eco-friendly catalysts for biodiesel: CaO on sugarcane bagasse biochar This review emphasizes the environmental and economic challenges in biodiesel production using homogeneous catalysts, highlighting the promise of CaO and biocharderived catalysts. While studies show good activity and stability, there is a need to address leaching issues, particularly in CaO/biochar systems, and an evident gap exists in research on sugarcane bagasse biochar-derived catalysts 2023 [45] operating at high temperatures and pressures.…”

New Insight into Organomineral Interactions in Soils. The Impact of Clay-Size Peat-Derived Organic Species on the Structure and the Strength of Soil Silt Aggregates

“…Recent trends to protect humid environments motivated researchers to replace peat with other biomass derivatives, among which biochar emerged as highly promising [20]. Biochar, as a material with well-developed porosity and surface area as well as high organic carbon content and stability, is currently often used as a pollutant sorbent, carbon sequester, component for fertilizers, or additive for effective improvement of physicochemical and physical properties of soil [21,22]. The impact of biochar on structure formation processes differs due to factor varieties affecting its properties, mainly during production [14,23].…”