Applications and Future Perspectives of Agricultural Waste Biochar and Its Nanocomposites

Many biomasses found in abundant quantities in nature are the type of agricultural waste materials. This plethora of biomass is an environmental nuisance. Biochar is a black carbon produced from the pyrolysis of biomass at higher temperatures in the absence of oxygen. Biochar performs multifunctional role due to its strong physicochemical characteristics such as adsorption, specific surface area, porosity, and crystallinity of carbon structure. The physical, chemical, and biological modifications of biochar lead to improved surface and adsorption properties of nanocomposites. The processed biochar has lots of importance due to the improved properties of pristine biochar. This chapter focuses on the application of agricultural waste biochar and its nanocomposites to waste water treatment, microbial fuel cell (MFC), and ceramic nanocomposites. The chapter is also intended to deliver the process, characterization, and mechanism of engineered biochar from pristine biochar. Further emphasis is given on applications of biochar in the development of advanced materials like graphene, carbon nanotubes (CNTs), and silicon carbide nanowires.