Reactivity of Pyrogenic Carbonaceous Matter (PCM) in mediating environmental reactions: Current knowledge and future trends

doi:10.1007/s11783-020-1265-6

Front. Environ. Sci. Eng.

2020, Vol. 14

Issue (5) : 86 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-020-1265-6

REVIEW ARTICLE

Reactivity of Pyrogenic Carbonaceous Matter (PCM) in mediating environmental reactions: Current knowledge and future trends

Wenqing Xu(

), Mark L. Segall, Zhao Li

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Villanova University, Villanova, PA 19085, USA

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Abstract

• Pyrogenic Carbonaceous Matter (PCM) promote both chemical and microbial synergies.

• Discussion of PCM-enhanced abiotic transformation pathways of organic pollutants.

• Conjugated microporous polymers (CMPs) can mimic the performance of PCM.

• CMPs offer a platform that allows for systematic variation of individual properties.

Pyrogenic Carbonaceous matter (PCM; e.g., black carbon, biochar, and activated carbon) are solid residues from incomplete combustion of fossil fuel or biomass. They are traditionally viewed as inert adsorbents for sequestering contaminants from the aqueous phase or providing surfaces for microbes to grow. In this account, we reviewed the recently discovered reactivity of PCM in promoting both chemical and microbial synergies that are important in pollutant transformation, biogeochemical processes of redox-active elements, and climate change mitigation with respect to the interaction between biochar and nitrous oxide (N₂O). Moreover, we focused on our group’s work in the PCM-enhanced abiotic transformation of nitrogenous and halogenated pollutants and conducted in-depth analysis of the reaction pathways. To understand what properties of PCM confer its reactivity, our group pioneered the use of PCM-like polymers, namely conjugated microporous polymers (CMPs), to mimic the performance of PCM. This approach allows for the controlled incorporation of specific surface properties (e.g., quinones) into the polymer network during the polymer synthesis. As a result, the relationship between specific characteristics of PCM and its reactivity in facilitating the decay of a model pollutant was systematically studied in our group’s work. The findings summarized in this account help us to better understand an overlooked environmental process where PCM synergistically interacts with various environmental reagents such as hydrogen sulfide and water. Moreover, the knowledge gained in these studies could inform the design of a new generation of reactive carbonaceous materials with tailored properties that are highly efficient in contaminant removal.

Keywords pyrogenic carbonaceous matter Conjugated microporous polymer remediation Biochar Hydrolysis Pollutant degradation

Corresponding Author(s): Wenqing Xu

Issue Date: 13 July 2020

Cite this article:

Wenqing Xu,Mark L. Segall,Zhao Li. Reactivity of Pyrogenic Carbonaceous Matter (PCM) in mediating environmental reactions: Current knowledge and future trends[J]. Front. Environ. Sci. Eng., 2020, 14(5): 86.

URL:

https://academic.hep.com.cn/fese/EN/10.1007/s11783-020-1265-6
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fese/EN/Y2020/V14/I5/86

Fig.1 (A) Schematic structure of PCM (^{Pignatello et al., 2017}) (B) A photo of activated carbon under a scanning electron microscope (photo from Pristine Filtration, Inc.) (C) A plot of the minimum average cluster size of chars versus heat treatment temperature. = range of number of carbons in aromatic cluster as a function of temperature (^{Cao et al., 2012})

Fig.2 (A) (I) Quinone/hydroquinone pairs, (II) polyaromatic ring clusters, (III) persistent free radicals (PFRs) of PCM in facilitating redox reactions. (B) Electrochemical cell set up.

Tab.1 PCM-facilitated abiotic reactions for pollutant transformation

Fig.3 Schematic illustration of the nucleophilic substitution and hydrolysis pathways in which PCM could participate to promote contaminant transformation.

Fig.4

Fig.5 The PCM-like polymer platform, CMP, allows for systematic variation of functional groups, conductivity, and porosity.

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