Synergistic Effects of Biochar and Microbes on Soil Remediation

Abstract

With the development of science and technology progress, while improving the quality of life has caused some pollution to the soil environment, this pollution has threatened the ecosystem and even human health. However, how to carry out soil remediation actively and effectively is the current problem faced. Several common soil remediation methods have their drawbacks that cannot be widely used. Therefore, research on the synergistic effect of biochar and microorganisms on soil remediation is urgent. The feature of microbial remediation technology without secondary contamination combined with biochar can be used as a high-quality amendment to assist in the remediation of soils contaminated with heavy metals and total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs). There have been many researches in the field of biochar in the past years, and its loose and porous characteristics and carbon stability provide suitable conditions for the survival and growth of microorganisms. Moreover, as a carrier, biochar can co-operate with microorganisms to absorb and degrade pollutants. The use of biochar combined with microorganisms in remediation not only reuses agricultural waste but also reduces some of the costs. In addition, the research on soil remediation in China started late, and there are large differences between the north and the south in China’s vast territory, and the diversity of land also means the diversity of pollution. Therefore, there is an urgent need for the technology of biochar and microorganism to improve the soil environment. It is worth discussing how to realize this technology into the market at the present time when the government is eager to achieve energy saving and emission reduction and support the development of green enterprises. This paper will be divided into four main sections on this topic, starting with the current problems faced and the background of the research. The experimental mechanism of the different purification methods for organic and inorganic pollutants is discussed, in which organic pollutants represented by petroleum hydrocarbons and inorganic pollutants represented by heavy metals are analyzed. Soils contaminated by organic or inorganic pollutants are different in terms of purification mechanisms.