https://biointerfaceresearch.com/ 7914 Review Volume 12, Issue 6, 2022, 7914 - 7926 https://doi.org/10.33263/BRIAC126.79147926 Biochar : A Review of its History, Characteristics, Factors that Influence its Yield, Methods of Production, Application in Wastewater Treatment and Recent Development Nur Salsabila Kamarudin 1,2 , Farrah Aini Dahalan 1,2* , Masitah Hasan 1,2 , Ong Soon An 1,2 , Nor Azizah Parmin 3 , Naimah Ibrahim 1,2 , Myzairah Hamdzah 4 , Nor Azimah Mohd Zain 6 , Khalida Muda 5 , Edza Aria Wikurendra 7 1 Water Research and Environmental Sustainable Growth (WAREG), Faculty of Civil Engineering Technology, Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP), Kompleks Pengajian Jejawi 3, 02600 Arau, Perlis, Malaysia 2 Faculty of Civil Engineering Technology, Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP), Kompleks Pengajian Jejawi 3, 02600 Arau, Perlis, Malaysia 3 Institute of Nano Electronic Engineering, Universiti Malaysia Perlis, 01000 Kangar, Perlis, Malaysia 4 Research Institute for Sustainable Environment (RISE), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 Johor Bahru, Johor 5 Department of Water and Environmental Engineering, School of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310, Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia 6 Department of Biosciences, Faculty of Science, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310, Skudai, Johor, Malaysia 7 Department of Public Health, Universitas Nahdlatul Ulama Surabaya, 60237 Surabaya, Indonesia * Correspondence: farrahaini@unimap.edu.my (F.A.D.); Scopus Author ID 55845177800 Received: 29.09.2021; Revised: 5.11.2021; Accepted: 8.11.2021; Published: 4.12.2021 Abstract: Biochar can alleviate several issues, and it should also be inexpensive to produce. Most biochars have a high pore structure and diverse functional groups that assist in the adsorption process. Due to the attributed properties of biochar, several studies have demonstrated that biochar is getting more attention for its efficiency in facilitating wastewater treatment. However, to ensure the feasibility of biochar in wastewater treatment, the factors involved in the preparation of biochar that influences its characteristics and adsorption capacity must be understood. This study reviews the history, characteristics, factors that influence its yield, production methods, application, and recent development of biochar in wastewater treatment. Keywords: biochar; wastewater treatment; water security. © 2021 by the authors. This article is an open-access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). 1. Introduction The Industrial Revolution resulted in a significant shift in the socio-economic circumstances of people across the globe. Not only has the pace of life accelerated as a result of scientific and technological advancement, but so has the quality of life [1]. The consequences of this shift and development have now impacted human life at large. Unfortunate results include global warming, soil pollution, water scarcity and pollution, resource depletion, and food shortages [1]. Rapid industrialization and an increase in agrochemical production have caused a significant increase in the levels of organic and inorganic pesticides and heavy metal pollution in the food web, with consequences for the surrounding environment [2]. The disposal of pollutants into the surrounding ecosystems from industrial, commercial, and residential