Population increase, urbanization and industrialization induce a drastic need for energy. Actually, fossil fuel resources are heavily exploited to meet the energy demand and result in the emission of greenhouse gases. Alternatively, biodiesel is a renewable fuel produced by transesterification of biomass lipidic feedstocks. Biodiesel is a renewable fuel that can replace fossil diesel. Short-chain alcohols and efficient catalysts are required for biodiesel production. For instance, biochar can be used as a heterogeneous catalyst for biodiesel production owing to its high surface area and porosity. Biochar is a low-cost, carbon-rich material produced by pyrolysis of plant biomass. Here, we review the production, activation, and application of biochar, with focus on characteristics of biochar-derived catalysts, such as surface chemistry, thermal stability, total acidity or basicity, structural morphology, and elemental composition. We also present the developments of biochar-based catalysts from various biomass sources for biodiesel production.

人口增加，城市化和工业化引起对能源的强烈需求。实际上，化石燃料资源被大量开采以满足能源需求并导致温室气体的排放。或者，生物柴油是通过生物质脂质原料的酯交换反应产生的可再生燃料。生物柴油是可替代化石柴油的可再生燃料。短链醇和高效催化剂是生物柴油生产所必需的。例如，由于生物炭具有高的表面积和孔隙率，其可用作生物柴油生产的非均相催化剂。生物炭是一种通过植物生物质热解生产的低成本，富含碳的材料。在这里，我们将重点介绍生物炭的生产，活化和应用，重点是生物炭衍生的催化剂的特性，例如表面化学，热稳定性，总酸度或碱度，结构形态和元素组成。我们还介绍了用于生物柴油生产的各种生物质来源的生物炭基催化剂的发展。