Valorization of Kitchen Waste into Functional Biochar: Progress in Synthesis, Characterization, and Water Remediation Potential

Himanshi Soni, Anjali Verma, Subbulakshmi Ganesan, Thangaraj Anand, Shakti Prakash Jena, Mikhael Bechelany and Jagpreet Singh ()
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Himanshi Soni: Centre of Research Impact and Outcome, Chitkara University, Rajpura 140417, Punjab, India
Anjali Verma: Bahra Research Innovation & Knowledge Cluster, Rayat Bahra University, Mohali 140103, Punjab, India
Subbulakshmi Ganesan: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, School of Sciences, JAIN (Deemed to be University), Bangalore 562112, Karnataka, India
Thangaraj Anand: Department of Chemistry, Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai 600119, Tamil Nadu, India
Shakti Prakash Jena: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan (Deemed to be University), Bhubaneswar 751030, Odisha, India
Mikhael Bechelany: Institut Européen des Membranes, IEM, UMR-5635, University of Montpellier, ENSCM, CNRS, Place Eugène Bataillon, CEDEX 5, 34095 Montpellier, France
Jagpreet Singh: Bahra Research Innovation & Knowledge Cluster, Rayat Bahra University, Mohali 140103, Punjab, India

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 19, 1-24

Abstract: The continuous increase in urbanization and global population has led to the generation of a substantial amount of kitchen waste, posing severe environmental and disposal challenges. The utilization of kitchen waste as organic biomass for biochar production offers a promising, sustainable, and cost-effective solution. This review comprehensively analyzes the recent developments in the transformation of kitchen waste into biochar. Moreover, the current study involves various synthesis techniques, the physicochemical characteristics of biochar, and its applications in soil and water remediation. Afterwards, the experimental parameters and feedstock types are critically evaluated in terms of their key characteristics for biochar. Moreover, the current study highlights the effectiveness of kitchen waste-derived biochar (KWBC) in decomposing organic pollutants, heavy metals, and pharmaceutical pollutants from contaminated environments. Additionally, the mechanisms of adsorption, ion exchange, complexation, and redox interactions are thoroughly illustrated to evaluate the pollutant removal pathways. At the end of the study, experimental parameters such as pH, dosage, contact time, and initial pollutant concentration are discussed, which play the main role in enhancing the adsorption capacity of biochar. Finally, this review outlines current limitations and proposes future directions for optimizing biochar performance and promoting its large-scale application in sustainable environmental management.

Keywords: kitchen waste; biochar; waste-to-resource; environmental remediation; adsorption mechanisms; organic pollutants; heavy metal removal; waste management (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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