Toward Sustainable Soil Remediation: Progress and Perspectives on Biochar-Activated Persulfate Oxidation

Qiwei Jian, Xianbao Xu (), Xiang Li (), Aiwu Yang, Bin Liu, Bo Yu, Hussein E. Al-Hazmi and Gamal Kamel Hassan
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Qiwei Jian: School of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering, Shanghai University of Engineering Science, Shanghai 201620, China
Xianbao Xu: Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Gdansk University of Technology, 80-222 Gdańsk, Poland
Xiang Li: State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China
Aiwu Yang: State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China
Bin Liu: School of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering, Shanghai University of Engineering Science, Shanghai 201620, China
Bo Yu: China Railway Water Group Co., Ltd., Xi’an 710000, China
Hussein E. Al-Hazmi: Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Gdansk University of Technology, 80-222 Gdańsk, Poland
Gamal Kamel Hassan: Water Pollution Research Department, National Research Centre, Dokki, Giza P.O. Box 12622, Egypt

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 12, 1-32

Abstract: Organic soil pollution poses a persistent threat to environmental sustainability by disrupting nutrient cycling and ecosystem functioning. The biochar-activated persulfate (PS)-based advanced oxidation process (AOP) has emerged as a promising strategy for the sustainable remediation of organic-contaminated soils. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the recent progress in the PS-based degradation of organic pollutants, with a particular focus on the role of biochar as an efficient and environmental activator. This review further summarizes advancements in the design of modified biochars, including metal (Fe, Cu, Co, Mn, Zn, and La), non-metal (N, S, B, P), and functional group modifications, aimed at enhancing the PS activation efficiency while minimizing secondary environmental risks. Importantly, the overlooked contributions of soil microorganisms in PS/biochar systems are discussed, highlighting their potential to complement chemical oxidation and contribute to eco-compatible remediation pathways. This review emphasizes the sustainability-oriented evolution of PS/biochar technology, highlighting the importance of a cost-efficient implementation, ecological compatibility, and the rational engineering of smart, regenerable catalysts. These insights support the advancement of PS/biochar-based AOPs toward scalable, intelligent, and environmentally sustainable soil remediation.

Keywords: biochar; persulfate; soil; biochar modification; bioremediation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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