{"id":98,"date":"2025-09-03T12:57:14","date_gmt":"2025-09-03T12:57:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/agrimarepository.web2learn.eu\/?post_type=knowledgebase&p=98"},"modified":"2025-09-03T12:58:32","modified_gmt":"2025-09-03T12:58:32","slug":"production-of-biochars-from-agro-food-wastes-for-environmental-applications","status":"publish","type":"knowledgebase","link":"https:\/\/agrimarepository.web2learn.eu\/?knowledgebase=production-of-biochars-from-agro-food-wastes-for-environmental-applications","title":{"rendered":"Production of biochars from agro-food wastes for environmental applications"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Emerging contaminants, especially pharmaceuticals, have become a growing concern due to their long-term ecological impacts. These compounds are not effectively removed by conventional wastewater treatment technologies and persist in the environment. The European Union introduced a directive requiring the implementation of quaternary treatment in large-scale wastewater treatment plants capable of removing at least 80% of harmful organic micropollutants, namely pharmaceutical compounds [1-3].
In this study, biochar derived from agro-industrial basil (Ocimum basilicum) residues were used as a low-cost and sustainable adsorbent for removing antidepressants (trazodone and fluoxetine) from water. Particle size was found to significantly influence the biochar performance in different ways, with finer fractions (<0.5 mm) achieving over 70% for trazodone, and the largest size (>2 mm) reaching over 90% for fluoxetine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, the biochar was investigated as a catalyst in an electro-Fenton system for the degradation of antidepressants, showing a strong removal efficiency. Notably, pharmaceutical-loaded biochar was also successfully treated using the electro-Fenton process, enabling degradation of the adsorbed contaminants and minimising secondary environmental risks.
The results confirm the dual functionality of basil-derived biochar as an effective adsorbent and catalyst. This approach supports circular economic practice by valorising agricultural waste.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

References
[1] N. Morin-Crini et al. (2022). Environ. Chem. Lett., 20, 1333-1375.
[2] European Parliament and Council. Directive (EU) 2024\/3019 of the European Parliament and of the council of 27 November 2024 concerning urban wastewater treatment (recast)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ana Rita Alves, Cristina Soares, S\u00f3nia Figueiredo, Cristina Delerue-Matos, Ant\u00f3n Puga ; REQUIMTE\/LAQV, Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto, Instituto Polit\u00e9cnico do Porto, Porto, Portugal<\/p>\n\n\n\n