A new review published in the Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology by Tuan Minh Truong Dang, Thao Thu Thi Huynh, Guo-Ping Chang-Chien, and Ha Manh Bui explores the potential of biocharBiochar is a carbon-rich material created from biomass decomposition in low-oxygen conditions. It has important applications in environmental remediation, soil improvement, agriculture, carbon sequestration, energy storage, and sustainable materials, promoting efficiency and reducing waste in various contexts while addressing climate change challenges. More as a solution to microplastic pollution. This research, a bibliometric analysis using CiteSpace, provides a comprehensive overview of how biochar can be used for environmental remediation, particularly in soil and water. The review highlights how this eco-friendly material is being studied to combat the negative effects of microplastics on agricultural land and aquatic systems.

Microplastics pose a significant threat to both soil and water environments. In agricultural soils, they can decrease crop yields and disturb the soil’s natural composition. The review notes that microplastics can reduce the biomassBiomass is a complex biological organic or non-organic solid product derived from living or recently living organism and available naturally. Various types of wastes such as animal manure, waste paper, sludge and many industrial wastes are also treated as biomass because like natural biomass these More of peanut roots and above-ground parts by up to 28.45% and 16.45%, respectively, and can decrease sugarcane root biomass by 22.6-37.9%. However, biochar has shown great promise in mitigating these effects. Recent studies cited in the review show that biochar can increase crop yields by 30-81%, even in highly contaminated soil. Additionally, biochar can improve soil chemistry by enhancing the availability of Olsen-P by 46.6% and increasing soil organic carbon in microaggregates by 35.7%. These changes help restore soil functionality and support healthier plant growth.

Beyond improving soil health and crop productivity, biochar also positively influences soil microbial communities. The presence of microplastics in soil can lead to a decrease in the abundance of certain microbial groups, while increasing others. Microplastics are also known to increase the abundance of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) by serving as carriers for them. The review, however, highlights that biochar amendments can help restore this microbial balance. For instance, studies have shown that biochar can enhance the abundance of beneficial microbes like

Bacillus and Pseudomonas. In one case, the application of coconut shell biochar reduced antibiotic resistance genes by up to 88.57%. The integration of biochar with microbial consortia has also been shown to significantly boost enzymatic activities in contaminated soil, increasing urease and dehydrogenase activities by 19.65% and 115.74%, respectively. In aquatic environments, biochar acts as an effective adsorbent for microplastics. The review compared two primary treatment models: batch systems and fixed-column models. The findings show that fixed-column models have a superior removal efficiency of 95.31 compared to batch systems, which achieved 93.36. The effectiveness of these systems varies with the size of the microplastics being treated. Fixed-columns are particularly effective for larger microplastics, achieving up to 99% efficiency for particles. For smaller particles, including nanoplastics, modified biochar materials, such as magnetically modified biochar (MBC), have shown significant promise, capturing up to 96.2% of microplastics. A key advantage of biochar-based treatment over other methods, like electrocoagulation, is that it is environmentally sustainable and allows for the separation and regeneration of biochar for reuse.

While biochar presents a promising and sustainable solution to microplastic pollution, the review also points out some remaining challenges. Current research is primarily conducted at the laboratory scale, and there is a need for more pilot and full-scale studies to validate its effectiveness under real-world conditions. Additionally, factors such as production costs and quality consistency need to be addressed to make biochar a viable solution for widespread application. Despite these challenges, the versatility of biochar, its effectiveness in both soil and water remediation, and its ability to improve crop yield and microbial health make it a compelling tool in the fight against microplastic pollution. Future research efforts are needed to bridge the gap between lab findings and practical, large-scale application, and to inform the development of regulatory frameworks for microplastic contamination.

Source: Dang, T. M. T., Huynh, T. T. T., Chang-Chien, G.-P., & Bui, H. M. (2025). The role of biochar in combating microplastic pollution: a bibliometric analysis in environmental contexts. Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology, 16, 1401–1416.