Biochar enhanced phytostabilization of heavy metal contaminated mine tailings: A review

Mining activities has generated large amounts of mine tailings each year, and these usually contain high concentrations heavy metal pollutants, which not only cause serious damage to the local surrounding soil ecosystems, but also harm human health via transmission food chain. Phytoremediation is treated as environmentally friendly, long-term effective low-cost restoration method. However, tailing acidification, low organic matter content, poor water holding capacity compaction make plant struggle survive. Biochar, a conditioner can promote growth by improving physical, chemical biological properties soil, thus strengthening ability phytoremediation in contaminated tailings. This review elaborates how physicochemical biochar affect phytoremediation; summarized raw materials characteristics. Finally, future research directions are prospected.