Finding innovative ways to bioremediate land is always at the forefront of our minds. This study conducted by Mazzurco-Miritana, V., Passatore, L., Zacchini, M. et al. explores biochar-based strategies to remediate polluted areas, particularly soils contaminated with hydrocarbons and copper. Biochar is a carbon-rich solid that is made from the decomposition of organic material and biomass; the source material of biochar varies, including timber slash, corn stalks, and manure. It has gained traction for its physicochemical characteristics, foreshadowing its potential for carbon-sequestration and ability to amend soil in agriculture.
Copper contamination stems from industrial waste discharge and an excess use of copper sulphate-based fungicides in agricultural practices, impacting crop yield and quality. Additionally, hydrocarbons are responsible for a lot of water and soil contamination.
This research aims to gain insight on the effects of biochar amendment, alone and in combination with bioremediation techniques, on soil contaminants (hydrocarbons and copper) and on its potential for revegetation. This study focuses on testing if biochar can be effective in (1) enhancing the biodegradation of aliphatic hydrocarbons, (2) reducing the availability of copper in soil, and (3) restoring fertility in soil.
Biochar is a porous carbon substance that helps increase the water-holding capacity of soil. USDA Forest Service photo by Deborah Page-Dumroese.
The results of this 9-month study revealed some promising news about biochar ability to bio-remediate contaminated soil. The results indicated that biochar added to soil helped with the removal of hydrocarbons from soil, but copper levels stayed about the same. The most toxic fraction of copper decreased while the fraction of copper associated with organic matter increased. Additionally, soil microbial abundance increased in all conditions, and most significantly in circumstances of a combination of biochar, bio-activators, and phytoremediation. And finally, plants grown in biochar-amended soil and biochar + bio-activator-amended soil enhances the growth of plants. Within the experiment, only plants grown in biochar presence survived by the ninth month.
For more information on this study, you can view the full article here.
Mazzurco-Miritana, V., Passatore, L., Zacchini, M. et al. Promoting the remediation of contaminated soils using biochar in combination with bioaugmentation and phytoremediation techniques. Sci Rep 15, 11231 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-93879-5