Biochar has emerged as a new class of biomass-derived functional materials that can be obtained using a plethora of thermochemical conversion techniques. Biochar-based environmental catalysts have potential applications toward a positive, planet-level impact. Here, recent observations in the activated conversions of emerging contaminants are reviewed, highlighting the most influential advancements, including metal-free processes. The status quo of the underlying interaction mechanisms are summarized, revealing the active functional moieties, persistent free radicals, graphitic degree and electron transfer capacity collectively and synergistically regulate the catalytic potency. These remarkable features convey biochar’s high activity and flexibility into viable chemo-redox, photo-, bio-, sono-, and electrocatalysis. Advanced coupling processes and some perspectives on future possibilities are proposed at the end.

生物炭已经成为一类新型的生物质衍生功能材料，可以使用大量的热化学转化技术获得。基于生物炭的环境催化剂具有潜在的应用潜力，可以对地球产生积极的影响。在此，对新兴污染物的活化转化的最新观察进行了回顾，重点介绍了最具影响力的进展，包括无金属工艺。总结了潜在相互作用机理的现状，揭示了活性功能部分，持久性自由基，石墨化程度和电子转移能力共同并协同调节了催化能力。这些卓越的功能将生物炭的高活性和灵活性转化为可行的化学氧化还原，光催化，生物催化，声催化和电催化。