Performance of wood waste biochar and food waste compost in a pilot-scale sustainable drainage system for stormwater treatment.

Sustainable drainage system (SuDS) for stormwater reclamation has the potential to alleviate the water scarcity and environmental pollution issues. Laboratory studies have demonstrated that the capacity of SuDS to treat stormwater can be improved by integrating biochar and compost in the filter media, whereas their performance in scaled-up applications is less reported. This study examines the effectiveness of a pilot-scale SuDS, bioswale followed by bioretention, amended with wood waste biochar (1, 2, and 4 wt.%) and food waste compost (2 and 4 wt.%) to simultaneously remove multiple pollutants including nutrients, heavy metals, and trace organics from the simulated stormwater. Our results confirmed that SuDS modified with both biochar (2 wt.%) and compost (2 wt.%) displayed superior water quality improvement. The system exhibited high removal efficiency (> 70%) for total phosphorus and major metal species including Ni, Pb, Cd, Cr, Cu, and Zn. Total suspended solids concentration was approaching the detection limit in the effluent, thereby confirming its capability to reduce turbidity and particle-associated pollutants from stormwater. Co-application of biochar and compost also moderately immobilized trace organic contaminants such as 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, diuron, and atrazine at field-relevant concentrations. Moreover, the soil amendments amplified the activities of enzymes including ß-D-cellobiosidase and urease, suggesting that the improved soil conditions and health of microbial communities could possibly increase phyto and bioremediation of contaminants accumulated in the filter media. Overall, our pilot-scale demonstration confirmed that the co-application of biochar and compost in SuDS can provide a variety of benefits for soil/plant health and water quality.

The mechanism by which SIRT1 regulates autophagy and EMT in drug-resistant oesophageal cancer cells.

Cancer cell resistance presents a significant clinical challenge. The mechanisms underlying drug resistance in cancer cells are intricate and remain incompletely understood. Notably, tumor cell resistance often coincides with the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). In this study, we observed an elevation in autophagy levels following the development of drug resistance in oesophageal cancer cells. Inhibition of autophagy led to a reduction in drug-resistant cell migration and the inhibition of EMT. Furthermore, we identified an upregulation of SIRT1 expression in drug-resistant oesophageal cancer cells. Subsequent inhibition of SIRT1 expression in drug-resistant cells resulted in the suppression of autophagy levels, migration ability, and the EMT process. Our additional investigations revealed that a SIRT1 inhibitor effectively curbed tumor growth in human oesophageal cancer xenograft model mice (TE-1, TE-1/PTX) without evident toxic effects. This mechanism appears to be associated with the autophagy levels within the tumor tissue.

The Potential of Lipid Droplet-associated Genes as Diagnostic and Prognostic Biomarkers in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: The role of lipid droplets (LDs) and lipid droplet-associated genes (LD-AGs) remains unclear in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). This study aimed to investigate LDs in HNSCC and identify LD-AGs essential for the diagnosis and prognosis of HNSCC patients. METHODS: The LDs in the HNSCC and normal cell lines were stained with oil red O. Bioinformatic analysis was used to find LD-AGs in HNSCC that had diagnostic and prognostic significance. RESULTS: LDs accumulation was increased in HNSCC cell lines compared with normal cell lines (P<0.05). Fifty-three differentially expressed genes, including 34 upregulated and 19 downregulated, were found in HNSCC based on the TCGA platform (P<0.05). Then, 53 genes were proved to be functionally enriched in lipid metabolism and LDs. Among them, with an AUC value > 0.7, 34 genes demonstrated a high predictive power. Six genes (AUP1, CAV1, CAV2, CAVIN1, HILPDA, and SQLE) out of 34 diagnostic genes were linked to overall survival in patients with HNSCC (P<0.05). The significant prognostic factors AUP1, CAV1, CAV2, and SQLE were further identified using the univariate and multivariate cox proportional hazard models (P<0.05). The protein expression of CAV2 and SQLE was significantly increased in the HNSCC tissue compared to normal tissues (P<0.05). Finally, the knockdown of the four LD-AGs decreased LDs accumulation, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Increased LDs accumulation was a hallmark of HNSCC, and AUP1, CAV1, CAV2, and SQLE were discovered as differentially expressed LD-AGs with diagnostic and prognostic potential in HNSCC.

Improved energy recovery from yard waste by water-starved hydrothermal treatment: Effects of process water and pressure.

This study investigated the feasibility of a high-loading process with less water consumption for the valorization of wet biomass waste through hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) with and without N2 pressurization from the views of water saving, carbon utilization, and energy recovery. The results revealed that reducing the liquid-to-solid ratio from 10 to 2.5 significantly improved carbon storage in hydrochar due to preferential carbon sequestration as the solid phase (59.9%) instead of being lost in the liquid phase (∼10%). The pressurized HTC process resulted in a higher stability hydrochar through the devolatilization of secondary char that was less stable, yet resulted in âˆ¼10% 15% more carbon transformation to the gas phase. A cost-benefit analysis further demonstrated the potential of the high-loading HTC process for enhancing energy recovery while minimizing energy consumption during hydrochar production from high-moisture yard waste.

Revealing roles of CO2 and N2 in pressurized hydrothermal carbonization process for enhancing energy recovery and carbon sequestration.

In this study, CO2- and N2-pressurized hydrothermal carbonization processes were investigated to understand the catalytic effects of CO2 on hydrochar production and its quality (e.g., surface properties, energy recovery, and combustion behaviour). Both CO2- and N2-pressurized HTC processes could enhance the energy recovery (from 61.5% to 63.0-67.8%) in hydrochar by enhancing the dehydration reactions. Nonetheless, the two systems exhibited contrasting trends in volatile release, oxygen removal, and combustion performance as a function of increasing pressure. High N2 pressure enhanced deoxygenation reaction, facilitating the release of volatiles and increasing the hydrochar aromaticity and combustion activation energy (172.7 kJ/mol for HC/5N). Without the contribution of CO2, excessively high pressure may cause an adverse impact on the fuel performance owing to higher oxidation resistance. This study presents an important and feasible strategy to utilise CO2-rich flue gas in the HTC process to produce high-quality hydrochar for renewable energy and carbon recovery.

Valorization of slow pyrolysis vapor from biomass waste: Comparative study on pyrolysis characteristics, evolved gas evaluation, and adsorption effects.

Pyrolysis vapor is an important byproduct in the production of biochar from biomass waste, and its emission may pose potential environmental risks. To achieve green production of biochar and efficient utilization of pyrolysis vapors, a novel strategy is proposed in this study to use pristine biochar as an adsorbent to adsorb the pyrolysis vapors. According to thermogravimetry-Fourier infrared spectroscopy-mass spectrometry evaluation, the evolved vapors mainly consisted of oxygenated compounds, hydrocarbons, CO2, CO, and H2O. With pyrolysis temperature increasing, ethers, phenols, hydrocarbons, acids/ketones, and CO2 were changed in the same direction based on two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy analysis. Moreover, butene, propargyl alcohol, and butane were the most abundant ionic fragments. After adsorbing pyrolysis vapors, the heating value of the biochar increased by a maximum of 3.2 MJ kg-1 with changes of physicochemical properties. This strategy provides a theoretical basis for green preparation of biochar while recovering energy from pyrolysis vapors.

Continuous artificial intelligence-assisted DNA aneuploidy cytology for surveilling dysplastic oral leukoplakia treated by photodynamic therapy.

Oral leukoplakia (OLK) is one of the most common potentially malignant disorders. High-risk lesions require early intervention before developing into oral cancer. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a noninvasive technique for premalignant lesions. Scalpel biopsy remains a reliable method for monitoring the prognosis of OLK, but it is an invasive procedure with poor reproducibility to suspicious lesions. DNA aneuploidy cytology by oral cytobrush has been proposed as a promising objective and noninvasive tool in screening and diagnosing premalignant and malignant lesions. Here, we discussed the significance of artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted DNA aneuploidy cytology by image cytometry (DNA-ICM) for surveilling non-homogeneous OLK with moderate-to-severe dysplasia that was treated by 5-aminolevulinic acid-mediated PDT (ALA-PDT). The present study provides a scheme of the sequential management and surveillance strategy for OLK.

Dynamic variation and inhalation exposure of organophosphates esters and phthalic acid esters in face masks.

The coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) has posed a huge global health threat since December 2019. Wearing face masks is known as an effective measure for controlling the wide spread of COVID-19 and its variants. But on the other hand, face masks could be a potential source of organophosphate esters (OPEs) and phthalic acid esters (PAEs) as they are extensively added in masks. However, knowledge associated with the occurrence as well as inhalation risks of OPEs and PAEs in masks is limited. In this study, OPEs and PAEs were determined in different types of mask samples collected from the local market. OPEs and PAEs were detected in mask samples ranging from 36.7 to 855 ng/g, and from 251 to 3830 ng/g, respectively. Relatively lower OPEs and PAEs concentrations were observed in disposable mask for toddlers. Simulated inhalation experiment indicated that the mass loss of OPEs and PAEs was 136 and 3910 ng/mask in disposable masks, 71.9 and 763 ng/mask in disposable mask for toddlers, 924 and 1020 ng/mask in N95 mask after 12 h, respectively. Significantly negative correlations were exhibited between the decrement of OPEs in masks and the increment of OPEs in corresponding polyurethane foams (PUFs) during the course, elucidating OPEs released from masks could be well captured by PUFs. With regard to the variation over time, predominant OPE and PAE analogues showed semblable release and absorption tendency in mask and corresponding PUF. Inhalation exposure risk of OPEs and PAEs was estimated based on the increment of pollutants in PUF. The estimated daily intakes (EDIs), hazard index (HI) and carcinogenic risk (CR) were also calculated and they were within the threshold levels. This study provides the evidence of OPEs and PAEs releasing from the face masks during wearing and unveiled a potential source of OPEs and PAEs exposure to humans.

Occurrence, correlation, and partitioning of organophosphate esters in soil and tree bark from a megacity, Western China.

Concern over the influences of constant addition of emerging anthropogenic chemicals to the environment has become a public issue during the rapid urbanization. Here, we investigated the occurrence of organophosphate esters (OPEs) in soil and corresponding tree bark in a megacity, Western China. Our results showed levels of OPEs in tree bark (1250 ± 573 ng/g dry weight (dw)) were 1-2 orders of magnitude higher than those in soil (40.4 ± 30.8 ng/g dw). Rooster Mountain is a background mountain area, exhibiting significantly lower concentrations of OPEs in soil and tree bark than those in other sites with relatively high population density. This result highlights the effect of human activities on the distribution of OPEs in environmental matrices. Alkyl-OPEs were predominant compounds in soil, whereas halogenated- (Cl-) OPEs were characterized in tree bark. Furthermore, tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP) positively correlated with tris(2-chloroisopropyl) phosphate (TCIPP) in soil (r2 = 0.43, P < 0.05) while negatively correlated with TCIPP in tree bark (r2 = 0.31, P < 0.05). The ratios of logarithm concentrations of OPEs in tree bark to those in soil correlated well with logKOA values of OPEs from 6 to 10, indicating the equilibrium status was achieved between OPE partitioning in soil and in tree bark. Nevertheless, tris (2-butoxyethyl) phosphate (TBEP) and tris(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate (TEHP) with high values of logKOA deviated from this linear tendency, which was possibly due to the fact that they were subjected to the particle-bound deposition process, leading to partition into the soil.

A single-sample mRNA molecular classification of bladder cancer predicting prognosis and response to immunotherapy.

Background: As an immunogenic cancer, crosstalk between cancer cells and immune cells has been gradually recognized in bladder cancer (BC). Several studies have emphasized the clinical significance of the molecular stratification of BC without highlighting the role of the immune microenvironment. Although immunotherapy acted as a prospective treatment, more precise molecular stratification should be established to select those sensitive to immunotherapy. Methods: To select specific immune genes forming subtypes indicating disparate prognoses, we performed bioinformatic analysis using BC transcriptomic profiles from six published datasets, with 408 BC samples in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and 295 individuals in International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) database. Survival analyses were conducted using Kaplan-Meier curves, while Kruskal-Wallis tests were applied to test the differences among groups. Except for unsupervised clustering based on the differential expression of genes, we additionally performed binomial logistic regression, focusing on the mRNA level of a single sample. Results: Unsupervised clustering showed that 4 clusters captured the best segmentation. After validation with survival data and simplification using binomial logistic regression, we found that cluster B and cluster D showed worse survival outcomes (P=0.012). Considering the similar survival outcomes of these two clusters, we recombined and performed another survival analysis, which also showed significant survival differences (P=0.0041). Bonding with clinical data, a greater proportion of risk factors were assigned to the worse prognosis subtype, especially showing higher grades in the subtype (P<0.001). In addition, immune cell infiltration, single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and copy number variation (CNV) all showed differences between clusters, indicating changes in the immune microenvironment and mutation burden. Through phenotypical analysis, we found metabolism and proliferation phenotypes associated with the immune clusters and mutually exclusive in BC, of which proliferation contributed to worse outcomes. Using the tumor immune dysfunction and exclusion (TIDE) score, a worse immunotherapy benefit was predicted in clusters B&D, defined as the worse prognosis subtype. Conclusions: With this novel clustering criterion based on immune-related genes, we provide a better understanding of the immune microenvironment, further guiding the use of immunotherapy.

Process water recirculation for catalytic hydrothermal carbonization of anaerobic digestate: Water-Energy-Nutrient Nexus.

The process water (PW) from acid-catalyzed hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) is still an environmental burden due to the enriched organics, nutrients, and salts. This study proposed a novel strategy to valorize food waste digestate into multifunctional hydrochar by recirculating the PW in the HCl-catalyzed HTC process. The produced multifunctional hydrochar could be utilized as a high-quality solid fuel with HHV of 27.9 MJ kg-1 (hydrochar without PW recirculation) and a slow-release fertilizer by converting the complex Ca and P compounds from the food waste digestate into a Ca-P deposit (hydroxyapatite) with more than a 93 % P recovery rate (hydrochar with PW recirculation). Adding fresh HCl in the HTC PW recirculation system only displayed a marginal catalytic impact on the hydrochar properties after two cycles of recirculation. This study demonstrated the importance of inherent Ca in the feedstocks and the dual role of HCl in the HTC with PW recirculation.

Life-cycle assessment of pyrolysis processes for sustainable production of biochar from agro-residues.

Net carbon management of agro-residues has been an important pathway for reducing the environmental burdens of agricultural production. Converting agro-residues into biochar through pyrolysis is a prominent management strategy for achieving carbon neutrality in a circular economy, meeting both environmental and social concerns. Based on the latest studies, this study critically analyzes the life cycle assessment (LCA) of biochar production from different agro-residues and compares typical technologies for biochar production. Although a direct comparison of results is not always feasible due to different functional units and system boundaries, the net carbon sequestration potential of biochar technology is remarkably promising. By pyrolyzing agro-residues, biochar can be effectively produced and customized as: (i) alternative energy source, (ii) soil amendment, and (iii) activated carbon substitution. The combination of life cycle assessment and circular economy modelling is encouraged to achieve greener and sustainable biochar production.

Glaucocalyxin A impairs tumor growth via amplification of the ATF4/CHOP/CHAC1 cascade in human oral squamous cell carcinoma.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The natural extract glaucocalyxin A (GLA), purified from the aboveground sections of the Chinese traditional medicinal herb Rabdosia japonica (Burm. f.) Hara var. glaucocalyx (Maxim.) Hara, has various pharmacological benefits, such as anti-bacterial, anti-coagulative, anti-neoplastic, and anti-inflammatory activities. Although GLA has shown anti-tumor activity against various cancers, the therapeutic potential and biological mechanisms of GLA remain to be further explored in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). AIM OF THE STUDY: This study aimed to elucidate the therapeutic potential and regulatory mechanisms of GLA in OSCC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The cell proliferation and apoptosis effects of GLA were analyzed by CCK-8, clone formation, Annexin V/PI staining, and apoptotic protein expression in vitro. An OSCC xenograft model was applied to confirm the anti-neoplastic effect in vivo. Furthermore, the changes of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were determined by DCFH-DA probe and GSH/GSSG assay, and inhibited by the pan-caspase inhibitor Z-VAD(OMe)-FMK and the ROS scavenger N-acetylcysteine (NAC). The modulation of GLA on mitochondria and ER-dependent apoptosis pathways was analyzed by JC-1 probe, quantitative real-time PCR, and Western blot. Finally, public databases, clinical samples, and transfection cells were analyzed to explore the importance of GLA's indirect targeting molecule CHAC1 in OSCC. RESULTS: GLA significantly inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis in vitro and in vivo. GLA perturbed the redox homeostasis, and cell apoptosis was totally rescued by Z-VAD(OMe)-FMK and NAC. Furthermore, GLA activated the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway. Simultaneously, the overexpression and knockdown of CHAC1 dramatically affected GLA-mediated apoptosis. The endoplasmic reticulum stress-associated ATF4/CHOP signal was identified to participate in GLA-upregulated CHAC1 expression. Finally, we found that CHAC1 expression was lower in OSCC compared with normal tissues and positively correlated with 4-Hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) level. High CHAC1 expression also indicated better overall survival. Moreover, CHAC1 selectively regulated the viability of oral cancer cells. CONCLUSION: GLA is a promising therapeutic agent that activates the ROS-mediated ATF4/CHOP/CHAC1 axis in OSCC patients.

The associations between organophosphate esters and urinary incontinence in the general US population.

Organophosphate esters (OPEs) impact health in many ways. Since its relationship with urinary incontinence remains unknown, we aimed to explore their associations in the US general population. We combined the results of urine specimens test and self-reported urinary incontinence conditions from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2013-2014 among 2666 participants and then conducted linear regression and logistic regression to analyse associations between log2-transformed OPE concentrations and urinary incontinence. We found that 0.92% of men and 15.74% of women complained of mixed urinary incontinence (MUI). The concentrations of diphenyl phosphate (DPHP) were significantly correlated to MUI among women when treated as a continuous variable (adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 1.15; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.01-1.31; p = 0.0369) and as a categorical variable (adjusted OR = 1.24; 95% CI, 1.03-1.49; p for trend = 0.0245), whereas no positive correlation was found in males. There were no significant associations between the other three OPEs: bis(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (BCEP), bis(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (BDCPP) and dibutyl phosphate (DBUP). The association of DPHP with an increased prevalence OR of MUI in women is a public health concern; future prospective studies are needed to explore its potential mechanism.

Insights into the adsorption of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) on biochar and activated carbon with the aid of machine learning.

The science-informed design of 'green' carbonaceous materials (e.g., biochar and activated carbon) with high removal capacity of recalcitrant organic contaminants (e.g., pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs)) is indispensable for promoting sustainable wastewater treatment. In this study, machine learning (ML) incorporating PPCPs and biochar properties as well as adsorption conditions were applied to build adsorption prediction models and explore the contributions of various biochar's inherent properties to their PPCPs adsorption capacity. The results demonstrated that the models developed by detailed biochar properties (e.g., surface functionality and hierarchical porous structure) from advanced microscopic and spectroscopic techniques were more accurate (i.e., the root-mean-square error decreased by 18-24%) than those by general information such as bulk elemental composition and total pore volume. The relative importance of surface carbon functionalities ranked in the order of C-O bond > CO bond > non-polar carbon for predicting the adsorption capacity. According to the partial dependence analysis, the average pore diameters of adsorbents that were larger than the maximum diameter of PPCPs molecules by 1.5-fold to 2.5-fold favored the PPCPs adsorption. This study reveals new insights into the adsorption of PPCPs and provides a comprehensive reference for the sustainable engineering of biochar adsorbents for PPCPs wastewater treatment.

Catalytic co-hydrothermal carbonization of food waste digestate and yard waste for energy application and nutrient recovery.

Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) provides a promising alternative to valorize food waste digestate (FWD) and avoid disposal issues. Although hydrochar derived from FWD alone had a low calorific content (HHV of 13.9 MJ kg-1), catalytic co-HTC of FWD with wet lignocellulosic biomass (e.g., wet yard waste; YW) and 0.5 M HCl exhibited overall superior attributes in terms of energy recovery (22.7 MJ kg-1), stable and comprehensive combustion behaviour, potential nutrient recovery from process water (2-fold higher N retention and 129-fold higher P extraction), and a high C utilization efficiency (only 2.4% C loss). In contrast, co-HTC with citric acid provided âˆ¼3-fold higher autogenous pressure, resulting in a superior energy content of 25.0 MJ kg-1, but the high C loss (∼74%) compromised the overall environmental benefits. The results of this study established a foundation to fully utilize FWD and YW hydrochar for bioenergy application and resource recovery from the process water.

Luteolin attenuates cancer cell stemness in PTX-resistant oesophageal cancer cells through mediating SOX2 protein stability.

Cancer drug resistance is a formidable obstacle that enhances cancer stem-like cell properties, tumour metastasis and relapse. Luteolin (Lut) is a natural flavonoid with strong antitumor effects. However, the underlying mechanism(s) by which Lut protects against paclitaxel-resistant (PTX-resistant) cancer cell remains unknown. Herein, we found that Lut significantly attenuated the stem-like properties of PTX-resistant cancer cells by downregulating the expression of SOX2 protein. Additionally, further study showed that Lut could inhibit the PI3K/AKT pathway to decrease the phosphorylation level of AKT(S473) and UBR5 expression, which is an ubiquitin E3 ligase that promotes SOX2 degradation. In addition, Lut also inhibited PTX-resistant cancer cell migration and invasion by blocking epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Importantly, Lut inhibited the tumorigenic ability of oesophageal PTX-resistant cancer cells and showed no obvious toxicity in vivo. Thus, Lut has potential as a promising agent for drug-resistant oesophageal cancer therapy.

Luteolin combined with low-dose paclitaxel synergistically inhibits epithelial-mesenchymal transition and induces cell apoptosis on esophageal carcinoma in vitro and in vivo.

Although paclitaxel is a promising frontline chemotherapy agent for various malignancies, the clinical applications have been restricted by side effects, drug resistance, and cancer metastasis. The combination of paclitaxel and other agents could be the promising strategies against malignant tumor, which enhances the antitumor effect through synergistic effects, reduces required drug concentrations, and also suppresses tumorigenesis in multiple ways. In this study, we found that luteolin, a natural flavonoid compound, combined with low-dose paclitaxel synergistically regulated the proliferation, migration, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and apoptosis of esophageal cancer cells in vitro, as well as synergistically inhibited tumor growth without obvious toxicity in vivo. The molecular mechanism of inhibiting cell migration and EMT processes may be related to the inhibition of SIRT1, and the mechanism of apoptosis induction is associated with the reactive oxygen species (ROS)/c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathway-mediated activation of mitochondrial apoptotic pathway.

Sustainable management and recycling of food waste anaerobic digestate: A review.

Anaerobic digestion (AD) is a widely used technology to valorise food waste for biogas production yet a considerable amount of digestate remains under-utilised. Sustainable management and recycling of the nutrient-rich food waste anaerobic digestate (FWD) is highly desirable for closing resource loop and actualising circular economy. This work reviews the distinct properties of FWD and the existing treatment technologies. FWD shows great prospects as a nutrient source for microalgal cultivation and biofuel production. Emerging technologies such as thermal conversion (e.g., pyrolysis and hydrothermal treatment) of FWD into value-added products such as functionalised biochar/hydrochar with diverse applications would be attractive and warrant further research investigation. Integrated AD with subsequent valorisation facilities is highly encouraged to achieve complete utilisation of resources and reduce carbon emissions.

Critical impacts of pyrolysis conditions and activation methods on application-oriented production of wood waste-derived biochar.

Wood waste-derived biochar with tunable carbon structure and surface functionality has a great potential for various environmental applications and circular economy; however, a holistic understanding on the application-oriented production of high-efficacy biochar is lacking. Thus, the co-impacts of different pyrolysis conditions (temperature and duration) and activation methods (steam, CO2, and acid pretreatment) on the biochar properties were first investigated. A temperature of 650 ℃ was effective in forming carbonized structure in biochar, while 750 ℃ was critical for the porous structure development. A longer pyrolysis duration (>60 min) enhanced the pore volume without compromising the yield. The activated biochar exhibited a larger pore volume (2.1- to 2.9-fold of pristine biochar) for potential high-end emerging applications. The acid pretreatment effectively removed dissolved organic carbon and most metals from the biochar. This study provides an essential guidance on the fit-for-purpose designs of biochar production conditions for sustainable wood waste management.