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The adsorption of nitrogen and phosphorous nutrients on biochar and even biochar-soil mixtures was investigated. However, the situation of sulfur was not very clear. Here, sulfate (SO 4²⁻ ) adsorption onto dairy manure biochar obtained at 700 °c (DMBc700), soil (light sierozem) and a 1:9 (w/w) biochar-soil mixture (DMBc700-soil) was investigated us...
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Thermo-chemical conversion of crop residues to produce biochar is an emerging strategy in the context of sustainable phosphorous (P) use and residue management. An incubation study for 90 d was conducted to investigate the effects of rice-residue biochar (0, 10, 20 and 40 g kg⁻¹) in combination with inorganic-P (KH2PO4) (0, 25 and 50 mg kg⁻¹) on ph...
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... In the MTW reaction, high sulfate activity promotes schwertmannite stability (Fig. 8), and the likelihood of its conversion to goethite or hematite is diminished. Competing ions may impact arsenic removal, and sulfate sorption to dairy waste BC has been shown to exhibit increased affinity with increased acidity (Zhao et al. 2019a). It is therefore expected that sulfate will compete with oxyanion arsenate for surface complexation on forest waste biochar in low-pH waters. ...
Treatment of aqueous leachate from acid mine tailings with pristine biochar (BC) resulted in the removal of more than 90% of the dissolved arsenic with an attendant rapid and sustained pH buffering from 3 to 4. Pine forest waste BC was transformed to a highly effective adsorbent for arsenic remediation of acid mine drainage (AMD) because the dissolved iron induced “activation” of BC through accumulation of highly reactive ferric hydroxide surface sites. Physicochemical properties of the BC surface, and molecular mechanisms of Fe, S, and As phase transfer, were investigated using a multi-method, micro-scale approach (SEM, XRD, FTIR, XANES, EXAFS, and STXM). Co-located carbon and iron analysis with STXM indicated preferential iron neo-precipitates at carboxylic BC surface sites. Iron and arsenic X-ray spectroscopy showed an initial precipitation of ferrihydrite on BC, with concurrent adsorption/coprecipitation of arsenate. The molecular mechanism of arsenic removal involved bidentate, binuclear inner-sphere complexation of arsenate at the surfaces of pioneering ferric precipitates. Nucleation and crystal growth of ferrihydrite and goethite were observed after 1 h of reaction. The high sulfate activity in AMD promoted schwertmannite precipitation beginning at 6 h of reaction. At reaction times beyond 6 h, goethite and schwertmannite accumulated at the expense of ferrihydrite. Results indicate that the highly functionalized surface of BC acts as a scaffolding for the precipitation and activation of positively charged ferric hydroxy(sulf)oxide surface sites from iron-rich AMD, which then complex oxyanion arsenate, effectively removing it from porewaters.
Graphical abstract
... However, the neutralization of the pretreated biomass might lead to sulfate formation and the inhibition of the methanogens [32]. Sulfate can be adsorbed onto biochar through electrostatic interaction, suggesting that the biochar could mitigate sulfate inhibition [33]. On the other hand, biochar has been reported to be inhibitory to the microbial consortium at high concentrations [18,34]. ...
Pretreating water hyacinth (Pontederia crassipes Mart) with alkaline wet air oxidation (AWAO) increases the methane production rate when the feed to inoculum ratio (F/I) is equal to 1. Using higher F/I is more practical at large scale, but substrate inhibition occurs. The optimal conditions for the biomethanation of AWAO water hyacinth using high F/I (15) and the effect of biochar on the system were studied. Kinetic studies were conducted on the biomethanation of water hyacinth pretreated at 80 °C, 100 °C, 170 °C with 0.07, and 0.14 g Na2CO3/g feed and digested with 0 g, 0.05 g, and 0.10 g of biochar per g of feed. After 21 days of digestion, the methane rates for the untreated biomass and the water hyacinth pretreated at high temperature and alkali concentration (170 °C, 0.07 g Na2CO3/g) were 5.4 ± 0.1 and 3.6 ± 2.0 N. mL CH4/g feed *day, respectively. Higher methane rates (10.0 ± 0.7 N. mL CH4/g feed *day) were attained for the water hyacinth pretreated at lower temperature (80 °C) and lower alkali concentration (0.07 g Na2CO3/g). Also, the methane yield for the biomass pretreated at 80 °C was twice than that for the pretreated at 170 °C. The biomethanation of the water hyacinth pretreated at higher temperatures and low alkaline concentration showed a 20-day pseudo lag phase that was reduced by adding poultry litter biochar. The use of biochar on high F/I anaerobic digestion from pretreated water hyacinth is promising.
... Oxygen-containing functional groups such as carboxyl, carbonyl, and hydroxyl are combined with heavy metal ions with a positive charge on the surface of biochar. Zhao et al. (2019) reported that the major force for the adsorption of sulfate to dairy manure biochar obtained at 700 °C was electrostatic interaction, while the main forces for the adsorption of sulfate to light sierozem were both electrostatic interaction and creation of insoluble CaSO 4 . ...
The present review highlights the recent advancements regarding the use of biochar for the management of nutrient impoverished and metal contaminated soils. It includes a detailed discussion on the preparation, applications, and prospects of biochar for sustainable agriculture and environmental sustainability. Biochar is a sensible and robust material for the enhancement of soil fertility and management of contaminated soils for sustainable agriculture and mitigation of climate change. The properties of biochar are dependent on the type of feedstocks, pyrolysis temperature, residence/retention time, flow rate of gas, and modification characteristics of biochar. The use of biochar can improve the physicochemical and biological properties of soil, which results in enhanced crop growth and productivity under normal conditions, as well as in soils that pose abiotic stresses because of the presence of heavy metals, salt, or organic contaminants. Biochar remains unaltered in the soil for a long time, thereby contributing to soil organic carbon, mitigation of greenhouse gases, and ultimately contributing to the mitigation of climate change. The proposed research guidelines recommend prolonged field trials to assess the ecological impacts of biochar in soil, as well as its production, with the aim of increasing agricultural and environmental sustainability. Furthermore , the related processes can be effectively deliberated for exploiting the overall efficacy of the biochar modifications.
... Oxygen-containing functional groups such as carboxyl, carbonyl, and hydroxyl are combined with heavy metal ions with a positive charge on the surface of biochar. Zhao et al. (2019) reported that the major force for the adsorption of sulfate to dairy manure biochar obtained at 700 °C was electrostatic interaction, while the main forces for the adsorption of sulfate to light sierozem were both electrostatic interaction and creation of insoluble CaSO 4 . ...
The present review highlights the recent advancements regarding the use of biochar for the management of nutrient impoverished and metal contaminated soils. It includes a detailed discussion on the preparation, applications, and prospects of biochar for sustainable agriculture and environmental sustainability. Biochar is a sensible and robust material for the enhancement of soil fertility and management of contaminated soils for sustainable agriculture and mitigation of climate change. The properties of biochar are dependent on the type of feedstocks, pyrolysis temperature, residence/retention time, flow rate of gas, and modification characteristics of biochar. The use of biochar can improve the physicochemical and biological properties of soil, which results in enhanced crop growth and productivity under normal conditions, as well as in soils that pose abiotic stresses because of the presence of heavy metals, salt, or organic contaminants. Biochar remains unaltered in the soil for a long time, thereby contributing to soil organic carbon, mitigation of greenhouse gases, and ultimately contributing to the mitigation of climate change. The proposed research guidelines recommend prolonged field trials to assess the ecological impacts of biochar in soil, as well as its production, with the aim of increasing agricultural and environmental sustainability. Furthermore, the related processes can be effectively deliberated for exploiting the overall efficacy of the biochar modifications.
... Biochar could also decrease the availability of S due to the sorption of SO 4 2− by electrostatic interaction with the charged surface of biochar 44 . The decline in the content of sulphate by biochar application has been reported due to the formation of weakly soluble CaSO 4 45 . ...
This study aimed on the increasing nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of maize via the use of high temperature produced biochar (700 °C). Maize was grown to maturity on two contrasting soils (acidic Cambisol and neutral Chernozem) in pots with a treatment of biochar co-applied with ammonium sulphate stabilised by a nitrification inhibitor (3,4-dimethylpyrazole-phosphate, DMPP) or un-stabilised. The combination of biochar with ammonium sulphate containing DMPP increased maize biomass yield up to 14%, N uptake up to 34% and NUE up to 13.7% compared to the sole application of ammonium sulphate containing DMPP. However, the combination of biochar with un-stabilised ammonium sulphate (without DMPP) had a soil-specific influence and increased maize biomass only by 3.8%, N uptake by 27% and NUE by 11% only in acidic Cambisol. Further, the biochar was able to increase the uptake of phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) in both stabilised and un-stabilised treatments of ammonium sulphate. Generally, this study demonstrated a superior effect from the combined application of biochar with ammonium sulphate containing DMPP, which improved NUE, uptake of P, K and increased maize biomass yield. Such a combination may lead to higher efficiency of fertilisation practices and reduce the amount of N fertiliser to be applied.
... According to the literature, many analytical techniques are used for soil analysis. X-ray diffraction (XRD) is the most used molecular technique for the characterization of mineralogical phases present in soils (Zhao et al., 2019). Moreover, other molecular techniques are also used such as Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) (Gao et al., 2019) or even Raman spectroscopy (Wiesheu et al., 2018). ...
Machu Picchu is an archaeological Inca sanctuary from the 15th century, located 2430 m above the sea level in the Cusco Region, Peru. In 1983, it was declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The surroundings and soils from the entire archaeological site are carefully preserved together with its grass parks. Due to the importance of the archaeological city and its surroundings, the Decentralized Culture Directorate of Cusco-PAN Machu Picchu decided to carry out a careful monitoring study in order to determine the ecological status of the soils. In this work, elemental and molecular characterization of 17 soils collected along the entire park was performed by means of X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) after acidic digestion assisted by microwave energy. Thanks to the combination of these analytical techniques, it was possible to obtain the mineral composition and metal concentrations of all soils from these 17 sampling points. Finally, different statistical treatments were carried out in order to confirm the ecological status of the different sampling points from Machu Picchu archaeological site concluding that soils are not impacted
... In order to increase the biochar CEC by embedding more acidic oxygen functional groups on the surface, biochar was further treated with strong oxidants like hydrogen peroxide [39] and ozone [40]. Therefore, the removal of cationic pollutants (e.g., heavy metal ions, cationic dye) from aqueous solutions by using DM-based biochars has been widely studied in the literature [10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17]. Figure 6 showed the elemental compositions on the surfaces of the optimal product DMC-900 by the energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The contents of inorganic elements were consistent with the data in Table 2. ...
... In order to increase the biochar CEC by embedding more acidic oxygen functional groups on the surface, biochar was further treated with strong oxidants like hydrogen peroxide [39] and ozone [40]. Therefore, the removal of cationic pollutants (e.g., heavy metal ions, cationic dye) from aqueous solutions by using DM-based biochars has been widely studied in the literature [10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17]. Figure 6. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS) analyses of optimal biochar product (i.e., DMC-900). ...
In this work, the thermochemical analyses of dairy manure (DM), including the proximate analysis, ultimate (elemental) analysis, calorific value, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and inorganic elements, were studied to evaluate its potential for producing DM-based char (DMC) with high porosity. The results showed that the biomass should be an available precursor for producing biochar materials based on its high contents of carbon (42.63%) and volatile matter (79.55%). In order to characterize their pore properties, the DMC products produced at high pyrolysis temperatures (500–900°C) were analyzed using surface area and porosity analyzer, pycnometer, and scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). The values of pore properties for the DMC products increased with an increase in pyrolysis temperature, leading to more pore development and condensed aromatic cluster at elevated temperatures. Because of the microporous and mesoporous structures from the N2 adsorption–desorption isotherms with the hysteresis loops (H4 type), the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area of the optimal biochar (DMC-900) was about 360 m2/g, which was higher than the data reported in the literature. The highly porous structure was also seen from the SEM observations. More significantly, the cation exchange capacity (CEC) of the optimal DMC product showed a high value of 57.5 ± 16.1 cmol/kg. Based on the excellent pore and chemical properties, the DMC product could be used as an effective amendment and/or adsorbent for the removal of pollutants from the soil media and/or fluid streams.
... Although there are many researches reusing dairy cattle manure as a feedstock for biochar production, only few studies focused on using the dairy manure-based biochar as an adsorbent or biosorbent for the removal of pollutants from the aqueous solution and soil systems [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14]. Cao and other researchers [6,7] prepared the biochars at low temperatures (200-500 °C), indicating that the resulting biochar (SSA 2.7-13 m 2 /g) can be used as an effective sorbent for removal of lead and atrazine from the aqueous solution. ...
... Chen et al. [13] reported the removal of Cd and Pb with the biochars (including the biochar modified by NaOH treatment; SSA 9.4 and 25.9 m 2 /g) produced at 300 °C, revealing that the sorption mechanisms are predominantly controlled by chemisorption and complexation with carboxyl/hydroxyl functional groups. Zhao et al. [14] prepared the biochar (SSA 74 m 2 /g) obtained at 700 °C for studying its effects on adsorption of sulfate, showing that the electrostatic interaction between the biochar and sulfate ion could be the determining adsorption mechanism. ...
... For instance, the BET surface area of DM-BC (ca. 300 m 2 /g) was significantly higher than those (<186.5 m 2 /g) by other similar studies using dairy manure for the preparation of biochars [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14]. Based on the microporosity (i.e., the ratio of micropore surface area to BET surface area), listed in Table 1, it was close to 0.70, giving an indication of a mesoporosity of about 30%. ...
The use of biochar in the horticulture and crop fields is a recent method to improve soil fertility due to its porous features and rich nutrients. In the present study, dairy manure (DM) was used as a biomass precursor in the preparation of highly porous biochar (DM-BC) produced at specific conditions. Based on N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations, the resulting biochar featured its microporous/mesoporous textures with a BET surface area of about 300 m2/g and total pore volume of 0.185 cm3/g, which could be a low-cost biosorbent for the effective removal of methylene blue (MB) from the aqueous solution. As observed by the energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), the primary inorganic nutrients on the surface of DM-BC included calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), potassium (K), phosphorus (P), silicon (Si), sulfur (S), sodium (Na) and aluminum (Al). Furthermore, the resulting biochar was investigated in duplicate for its biosorption performance of cationic compound (i.e., methylene blue, MB) from the aqueous solution with various initial MB concentrations and DM-BC dosages at 25 °C. The findings showed that the biosorption kinetic parameters fitted by the pseudo-second order rate model with high correlations were consistent with its porous features. These experimental results suggested that the porous DM-based biochar could be reused as a biosorbent, biofertilizer, or soil amendments due to the high porosity and the abundance in nutrient minerals.
The pursuit of environmental sustainability and the harnessing of renewable energy sources pose significant challenges, compelling researchers to explore innovative solutions. Carbon materials have emerged as crucial players in both energy, environmental, and agricultural applications, owing to their exceptional properties. Biomass waste, abundant and often overlooked, has captured attention as a promising precursor for the development of carbon-based products. This is particularly evident in the creation of biochar and hydrochar, whose characteristics are intricately shaped by production methods, source materials, and process conditions. These variables collectively influence their suitability for diverse purposes, ranging from energy storage and conversion to soil and water restoration, making them invaluable tools in sustainable agriculture and environmental conservation, as well as in the capture of greenhouse gases. The versatility of biomass-based activated carbon is further enhanced by the diverse array of feedstocks and activation pathways employed. This adaptability renders it suitable for a multitude of applications, creating a symbiotic relationship between resource abundance and functional efficacy. This comprehensive review aims to evaluate contemporary thermochemical methods for converting organic waste into high-value carbon materials. Moreover, it delves into strategies that augment the functionality of these materials, including activation processes and surface modifications. The review also illuminates recent advancements in the realms of energy, agriculture, and environmental research. It consolidates existing literature on physicochemical characteristics and techno-economic assessments of engineered carbon materials, providing a nuanced understanding of their potential impact. While exploring challenges, prospects, and future research directions, this review outlines the synthesis of carbon compounds from biomass. It emphasises the capacity to produce distinct chars with unique properties through various production methods, tailoring them to the specific requirements of diverse environmental applications.
Graphical Abstract
Biochar can be a potential bio-amendment for remediating saline acid sulfate soil and its effects may be dependent on its properties. The current study sought to assess the effects of two different biochars on the properties and quality of saline acid sulfate soil. The experiment was implemented by mixing soil with biochars made from longan branches (LBs) and coconut coir biochar (CB) at five rates of 0%, 0.7%, 1.5%, 3%, and 6% (w/w). After 100 days of incubation in a greenhouse, soil samples from experimental pots were taken and analyzed for 11 parameters. The results showed that biochar significantly enhanced pH while declining the concentration of SO42− and exchangeable Al and Fe. Mechanisms responsible for these effects could be due to the high alkaline properties of the added biochar. Coconut biochar raised the concentration of exchangeable Na, K, and Mg more strongly than LB. Consequently, coconut biochar greatly increased the soil electrical conductivity (EC) value, while longan biochar exhibited no significant effect. The soil quality index of the 6%-LB-added soil increased by 64% and that of the 6%-CB-added soil increased by 45%, compared with the zero-biochar-added soil. Lower soil quality induced by CB compared with LB may be attributed to CB's initial properties, which had higher EC, Cl−, and Na levels than LB. The findings suggested that biochar addition can improve overall quality but alter individual properties of saline acid sulfate soil in different directions, depending on the properties of the added biochar, which requires more studies to clarify its ameliorative effects.
