Kennedy I. Ogunwa, Ebenezer C. Nnadozie, Nontembeko Dube, Peter Olusakin Oladoye, Kehinde Shola Obayomi
Biochar is expected to play a crucial role in advancing sustainability and conservation of planetary resources. This is necessary for the drive and fostering of a circular bio-economy. The burden of climate change and carbon footprint uncovers new potentials for biochar in soil health enhancement, reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, and carbon capture. Its integration with bioenergy production and potential to support regenerative agriculture make it an attractive organic solution. The growing importance of biochar has attracted interest across multiple industries and driven innovation in its production techniques. Advanced preparation methods for biochar, such as co-pyrolysis and microwave-assisted pyrolysis, are modern approaches to improving and enhancing the properties of biochar for several environmental and energy applications. In this work, the evolving roles of biochar in agriculture, construction, pharmaceuticals, and water management were extensively discussed. Challenges and future direction in the commercialization of biochar as a global elixir were also highlighted with emphasis on biomass stock, feedstock type, production techniques, properties of biochar, and the embrace of computational analysis in driving more effective processes.