Biochar has emerged as a promising material for removing heavy metals from aqueous environments due to its high surface area, porosity, and functional groups, which enhance its adsorption capacity. This review and bibliometric analysis summarize the current state of research on biochar for heavy metal remediation, highlighting key trends, research areas, and knowledge gaps. The study analyzed 579 articles published between 2010 and 2022, focusing on biochar's role in removing heavy metals such as Cr(VI), Pb(II), Cd(II), and Cu(II). The research shows that biochar-based remediation is a rapidly growing field with increasing scholarly attention. The main research areas include adsorption mechanisms, biochar modification, water treatment, and hydrothermal carbonization. Key trends include the reusability of biochar, modification with nanoparticles, and its application in treating acid mine drainage (AMD) and wastewater. The study also identifies the top countries and institutions contributing to this field, with China leading in research output. The analysis reveals that biochar modification, particularly with nanoparticles like ZnO and nano-zero-valent iron (nZVI), significantly enhances its adsorption capacity for heavy metals. However, there are still knowledge gaps, particularly in the application of biochar to real-world scenarios and the effectiveness of biochar in removing a broader range of heavy metals. The study emphasizes the need for further research to optimize biochar's performance in industrial contexts and to address the challenges of biochar degradation and environmental safety. Overall, biochar offers a sustainable and cost-effective solution for heavy metal remediation in aquatic environments.Biochar has emerged as a promising material for removing heavy metals from aqueous environments due to its high surface area, porosity, and functional groups, which enhance its adsorption capacity. This review and bibliometric analysis summarize the current state of research on biochar for heavy metal remediation, highlighting key trends, research areas, and knowledge gaps. The study analyzed 579 articles published between 2010 and 2022, focusing on biochar's role in removing heavy metals such as Cr(VI), Pb(II), Cd(II), and Cu(II). The research shows that biochar-based remediation is a rapidly growing field with increasing scholarly attention. The main research areas include adsorption mechanisms, biochar modification, water treatment, and hydrothermal carbonization. Key trends include the reusability of biochar, modification with nanoparticles, and its application in treating acid mine drainage (AMD) and wastewater. The study also identifies the top countries and institutions contributing to this field, with China leading in research output. The analysis reveals that biochar modification, particularly with nanoparticles like ZnO and nano-zero-valent iron (nZVI), significantly enhances its adsorption capacity for heavy metals. However, there are still knowledge gaps, particularly in the application of biochar to real-world scenarios and the effectiveness of biochar in removing a broader range of heavy metals. The study emphasizes the need for further research to optimize biochar's performance in industrial contexts and to address the challenges of biochar degradation and environmental safety. Overall, biochar offers a sustainable and cost-effective solution for heavy metal remediation in aquatic environments.