Single- and multi-metal engineered, functionalized hybrid biochars for heavy metal adsorption: synthesis, structure-function relationships, and coordination mechanisms

Key Points

• Biochars effectively adsorb heavy metals due to their unique structure-function relationships, enhancing purification capabilities.
• The study shows that multi-metal functionalized biochars achieve superior heavy metal uptake compared to single-metal counterparts.
• Synthesis techniques for creating engineered biochars include specific treatments to improve their adsorption properties, resulting in varied performance.
• These findings highlight the potential for using modified biochars in contaminated environments to mitigate heavy metal pollution.