Influence of biochar produced from different pyrolysis temperature on nutrient retention and leaching

Biochar application has been received much attention because biochar can improve the fertilizer utilization efficiency of soil. However, the effect of biochar produced at different temperature on the nutrient retention and leaching remains poorly understood. In this study, we observed the nutrients leaching from a sandy loam soil amended with biochar produced at different temperature. The properties of biochars produced from wheat straw at four contrasting pyrolysis temperatures (250, 350, 450, and 550°C) showed that increasing pyrolysis temperature increased pH value and specific surface area but reduced the electrical conductivity and cation exchange capacity. With the temperature increased, the nitrogen loss was significant decreased (p > 0.05) from 109.6 mg to 53.3 mg in biochar amended soil. However, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), available P, Na and K were significant increased (p > 0.05). These results demonstrate that the pyrolytic temperature has a great influence on biochar properties, which in turn affect the leaching of the available nutrients.     

Influence of pyrolysis temperature on chemical and physical properties of biochar from sewage sludge

The use of sewage sludge biochar (SSB) for agro-environmental purposes has been increasing. However, due to the strong influence of pyrolysis temperatures on its production, there is great variation in its final properties. In this regard, efforts to generate relationships among many correlated SSB properties may help to understand this influence. This study sought to evaluate the effect of pyrolysis temperature on agro-environmental physicochemical properties of SSB. Biochars from sewage sludge (SS) were produced at 300, 400 and 500°C and their physicochemical properties were evaluated in comparison to SS samples. The increase in pyrolysis temperature decreased C, N, and H contents and the H/C atomic ratio, while increasing the C/N ratio. The pyrolysis process increased pH values, the surface area and pore volume and enriched the SSB with macro and micronutrients. Considering all variables together, the biochar produced at 300°C was that which showed the greatest nutrients availability, such as N total, S, NO₃^?, NH₄⁺, Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺. Conversely, SSB produced at 500°C showed higher recalcitrant organic matter and alkalinity, important properties for C sequestration and the correction of acidic soils. The combined application of SSB produced at lower and higher pyrolysis temperatures should be furthered studied.     

Influence of pyrolysis temperature on rice straw biochar properties and corresponding effects on dynamic changes in bispyribac-sodium adsorption and leaching behavior in soil

Bispyribac-sodium is a weakly acidic herbicide with high water solubility and is thus a potential source of groundwater contamination. Considering the risk inherent to the use of this herbicide, this study assessed the impacts of rice straw(RS) and biochar amendments on the adsorption and leaching behavior of bispyribac-sodium in soil. Biochars were produced from RS at different pyrolysis temperatures and characterized using various spectral techniques.Rice straw had a surface area of 3.996×10     

Effects of pyrolysis temperature and feedstock type on biochar characteristics pertinent to soil carbon and soil health: A meta-analysis

Biochar amendment to soil is utilized globally as an approach to enhance carbon storage and to improve soil functioning. However, biochar characteristics and related improvements of soil functioning depend on biochar production conditions. Systematic evaluation of corresponding biochar characteristics is needed for more targeted and efficient biochar application strategies. Herein, we systematically review the effects of biochar pyrolysis temperature (175–950°C) and feedstock (corn stover, switchgrass and wood) on selected biochar characteristics (carbon content, H/C ratio, nitrogen content, pH, specific surface area, ash content and pore volume). These specific characteristics were selected as being pertinent to soil organic carbon sequestration and soil health improvement. Despite numerous studies on these topics, few have numerically quantified the effects of pyrolysis temperature. Our results show that high pyrolysis temperature (>500°C) increased carbon content and pore volume for wood biochar compared with low pyrolysis temperature (≤500°C). The high pyrolysis temperature decreased the H/C ratio and nitrogen content but increased pH, specific surface area and ash content regardless of feedstock. Compared with corn stover biochar and switchgrass biochar, wood biochar had higher carbon content and larger specific surface area but lower nitrogen and ash contents regardless of pyrolysis temperature. The higher biochar carbon content might be derived from higher lignin and cellulose contents of wood feedstock. Wood feedstock had 76%–109% more lignin and 27%–47% more cellulose than corn stover and switchgrass. Corn stover biochar had higher pH, and switchgrass biochar had larger pore volume than wood biochar. Our study indicates that the targeted production of biochar with specific characteristics can be facilitated by the selection of pyrolysis temperature and feedstock type. For amending soil with biochar, more operationally defined biochar production conditions and feedstock selection might be a way forward to wider acceptance and better predictability of biochar performance under field conditions.     

Structure and function of the soil microbial community in microhabitats of a heavy metal polluted soil

 Particle-size fractionation of a heavy metal polluted soil was performed to study the influence of environmental pollution on microbial community structure, microbial biomass, microbial residues and enzyme activities in microhabitats of a Calcaric Phaeocem. In 1987, the soil was experimentally contaminated with four heavy metal loads: (1) uncontaminated controls; (2) light (300 ppm Zn, 100 ppm Cu, 50 ppm Ni, 50 ppm V and 3 ppm Cd); (3) medium; and (4) heavy pollution (two- and threefold the light load, respectively). After 10 years of exposure, the highest concentrations of microbial ninhydrin-reactive nitrogen were found in the clay (2–0.1 μm) and silt fractions (63–2 μm), and the lowest were found in the coarse sand fraction (2,000–250 μm). The phospholipid fatty acid analyses (PLFA) and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) separation of 16S rRNA gene fragments revealed that the microbial biomass within the clay fraction was predominantly due to soil bacteria. In contrast, a high percentage of fungal-derived PLFA 18 : 2ω6 was found in the coarse sand fraction. Bacterial residues such as muramic acid accumulated in the finer fractions in relation to fungal residues. The fractions also differed with respect to substrate utilization: Urease was located mainly in the <2 μm fraction, alkaline phosphatase and arylsulfatase in the 2–63 μm fraction, and xylanase activity was equally distributed in all fractions. Heavy metal pollution significantly decreased the concentration of ninhydrin-reactive nitrogen of soil microorganisms in the silt and clay fraction and thus in the bulk soil. Soil enzyme activity was reduced significantly in all fractions subjected to heavy metal pollution in the order arylsulfatase >phosphatase >urease >xylanase. Heavy metal pollution did not markedly change the similarity pattern of the DGGE profiles and amino sugar concentrations. Therefore, microbial biomass and enzyme activities seem to be more sensitive than 16S rRNA gene fragments and microbial amino-sugar-N to heavy metal treatment. Received: 21 January 2000     

Influence of climate factors on soil heavy metal content in Slovenia

Purpose

In spite of equal lithology, the local climate can affect soils’ geochemical characteristics. We investigated the dependence of heavy metal content on climatic factors according to a hierarchical nested analysis of variance design (ANOVA).

Materials and methods

We examined the heavy metal content in soils developed on the Upper Triassic dolomite at six locations situated at increasing distances from the Adriatic Sea towards inland. We tested the influence of the locations’ position, i.e. climate, vegetation cover, small-scale variability and analytical error. Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn contents were determined by emission spectrometry.

Results and discussion

An initial increase in annual precipitation towards inland is followed by a steady decrease. Very high small-scale variability prevented statistically significant differences from being established at the location level due to the high variance components exhibited. However, the simpler one-way and non-parametric varieties of ANOVA confirmed significant differences in Co, Cr and Ni among locations. The differences are more pronounced in grassland soils where the Cu and Pb contents also differ between locations. There is a positive correlation among annual precipitation, Co, Cr and Ni, and it seems that the prevailing winds can also influence their content in soils.

Conclusions

The Co, Cr, Cu and Ni values are readily the highest in those locations with the greatest precipitation, possibly due to their resistance to leaching. The soils could be additionally enriched by an eolian contribution from the SW located outcropping flysch rocks. The established variability could be due to somewhat different dolomite composition. The reasons for the observed geochemical variability are complex and only partly due to climate.

     

热解温度对生物质炭碳保留量及稳定性的影响

以核桃壳为生物质炭生产原料,研究热解温度(200~700℃)对生物质炭产率、元素组成、表面官能团分布及其稳定性的影响,以期探明生物质炭基本性质随热解温度变化的规律,为全面了解生物质炭固碳减排效果提供理论参考。结果表明,生物质炭的C含量随温度升高而增加,H和O元素含量却随温度升高而降低。此外,生物质炭的H/C和O/C随着温度增加而减少。生物质炭的产率及碳保留量随着温度的升高而降低。红外光谱分析结果表明,经过热解核桃壳原材料分子中所含的-C-O和O-CH3基团消失,随着热解温度升高,生物质炭中的烷烃基团-CH逐渐减少,芳香化程度逐渐升高。500℃制备生物质炭的K2Cr2O7和KMn O4氧化碳损失量均最低,分别为10.4%和1.66%。相关分析表明,生物质炭的产率、碳保留量及稳定性与热解温度之间均具有显著相关关系。     

Influences of feedstock and pyrolysis temperature on the nitrate adsorption of biochar

Biochar (BC), charcoal produced through the pyrolysis of biomass, is reported to adsorb dissolved nitrate-nitrogen (NO₃-N). The NO₃-N adsorption properties of BC differ depending on the feedstock and the pyrolysis conditions, and the influences have not been systematically clarified. Therefore, we evaluated the dependence of feedstock and pyrolysis temperature on the NO₃-N adsorption properties of BC. Wood chips [Japanese cedar [Cryptomeria japonica] (CE) and Japanese cypress [Chamaecyparis obtusa] (CY)], moso bamboo [Phyllostachys edulis] chips (MB), rice [Oryza sativa] husks (RH), sugarcane [Saccharum officinarum] bagasse (SB), poultry manure (PM) and domestic wastewater sludge (WS) were air-dried and heated in a batch-type carbonization furnace at pyrolysis temperatures of 400, 600 and 800°C, with a hold time of 2 h. Among the BC produced from each feedstock, the one produced at 800°C had the greatest NO₃-N adsorption. The NO₃-N adsorption by BC produced from wood-based biomass at 800°C was significantly higher than that of the BC produced from non-wood-based biomass at 800°C. Therefore, BC made from wood-based biomass at higher temperature can be adequate as soil amendment material for adsorption of NO₃-N.     

农艺措施对降低污染土壤重金属活性的影响

本文利用小冶炼厂重金属污染的农田为对象,研究了不同农艺措施对土壤重金属活性及植物累积的差异,并对不同农艺措施改良效果作了评价,为植物修复重金属污染土壤选择相应的农艺措施提供科学依据。     

Glutamic acid decomposition as a sensitive measure of heavy metal pollution in soil

The effect of added heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn) on the rate of decomposition of glutamic acid was studied in four Dutch soil types in order to determine if such measurements would serve as sensitive indicators of heavy metal pollution in soil. The time required to reach the maximum respiration rate (referred to as the decomposition time) with glutamic acid was linearly related to increasing concentrations of Ni in a sandy loam soil.Changes in decomposition time were measured 18 months after addition of 55, 400 or 1000 mg kg^? of Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb or Zn respectively to sand, silty loam, clay and sandy peat soils. A significant increase in the decomposition time occurred with a concentration of 55 mg kg^?1 of Cd, Cu or Zn in the sand soil. At 400mgkg^?1 adverse effects in the various soils are distinct. The sensitivity of the decomposition time of glutamic acid as a method to measure soil pollution is discussed.     

Spectroscopic analyses to study the effect of biochar and compost on dry mass of canola and heavy metal immobilization in soil

This research was conducted to use spectroscopic analysis to evaluate the effect of biochar and compost application on heavy metal immobilization during the canola plants grown in the contaminated soil using X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Energy Dispersive spectroscopy by X-rays (EDX) and Fourier Transmission Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). The results showed that the cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) concentrations in the root and shoot of canola plants significantly decreased with the addition of rice straw compost (RC) and biochar (RB) to contaminated soil. The use of spectroscopic analysis observed the precipitation, inner-sphere complex reaction, and electrostatic attraction are the dominating mechanisms for heavy metals immobilization with organic amendments. Our results indicate that the rice straw biochar and compost can immobilize heavy metals and improve dry weight of canola plants. Moreover, the spectroscopic analysis is a simple method and can be effective to understand the mechanism of heavy metals immobilization.     

不同温度玉米秸秆生物炭对萘的吸附动力学特征与机理

通过批平衡实验,研究不同剂量热解温度(300、400、500、600℃,记作C300、C400、C500、C600)玉米秸秆生物炭对萘的吸附动力学特征与机理。同一热解温度下生物炭投加剂量为10 mg时对萘的平衡吸附量大于50 mg。热解温度对生物炭吸附萘的影响也不同,投加剂量为10 mg时,萘的平衡吸附量为C400C300C600C500;剂量为50 mg时,C300、C400和C600的平衡吸附量相近,而C500的平衡吸附量最低。生物炭对萘的吸附动力学数据随时间的变化可以用假二级动力学方程很好地拟合,表明生物炭对萘的吸附是复杂的,并不是单一的单层吸附。用颗粒内扩散模型和Boyd模型分析,发现液膜扩散以及颗粒内扩散均影响吸附过程,且液膜扩散为限速因素。     

Glyphosate degradation as a soil health indicator for heavy metal polluted soils

Glyphosate is a commonly used herbicide in grassland soils and microorganisms control its degradation. We introduce the concept of using the degradation rate as an indicator for ecosystem health. Testing this concept, we used soils with a long history of heavy metal pollution (Cu, Pb, and Zn). We hypothesized lower degradation rates in metal-polluted compared to less polluted soils. The degradation rates were measured by repeated measurements of the parent compound in spiked soil-water slurries incubated at 20 °C over 21 days. Average rates showed no differences comparing among soils. We observed a positive correlation between glyphosate degradation rates and soil metal pollution. Therefore, we concluded that the expected impact of the metals on the bacteria responsible for the herbicide degradation was not established. We discuss the potential influence on biological degradation rates of soil pH and adsorption and implications using the concept of the soil health indicator.     

Effects of slow and fast pyrolysis biochar on soil C and N turnover dynamics

This study compared the effect of two principal pyrolysis methods on the chemical characteristics of biochar and the impact on C and N dynamics after soil incorporation. Biochar was produced from wheat straw that was thermally decomposed at 525 °C by slow pyrolysis (SP) in a nitrogen flushed oven and by fast pyrolysis (FP) using a Pyrolysis Centrifuge Reactor (PCR). After 65 days of soil incubation, 2.9% and 5.5% of the SP- and FP-biochar C, respectively, was lost as CO₂, significantly less than the 53% C-loss observed when un-pyrolyzed feedstock straw was incubated. Whereas the SP-biochar appeared completely pyrolyzed, an un-pyrolyzed carbohydrate fraction (8.8% as determined by acid released C6 and C5 sugars) remained in the FP-biochar. This labile fraction possibly supported the higher CO₂ emission and larger microbial biomass (SMB-C) in the FP-biochar soil. Application of fresh FP-biochar to soil immobilized mineral N (43%) during the 65 days of incubation, while application of SP-biochar led to net N mineralization (7%). In addition to the carbohydrate contents, the two pyrolysis methods resulted in different pH (10.1 and 6.8), particle sizes (113 and 23 μm), and BET surface areas (0.6 and 1.6 m² g^?1) of the SP- and FP-biochars, respectively. The study showed that independently of pyrolysis method, soil application of the biochar materials had the potential to sequester C, while the pyrolysis method did have a large influence on the mineralization-immobilization of soil N.     

Effects of pyrolysis temperature and residence time on physicochemical properties of different biochar types

Here we selected eight types of feedstocks to assess the effects of pyrolysis temperature (300°C, 400°C, 500°C and 600°C) and residence time (0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8 and 24 h), respectively, on the physicochemical properties. The fixed-carbon content, pH value and amount of basic functional groups in biochars increased as the pyrolysis temperature increased from 300°C to 600°C; the opposite trend was found in the biochar yield, adsorption capacity and amount of acidic functional groups. Increasing the residence time at low pyrolysis temperature (300°C) resulted in a gradual reduction in the biochar yield and progressive increase in the pH and iodine adsorption number of biochars. However, increasing the residence time at high pyrolysis temperature (600°C) had little effect on the biochar yield or pH, while it decreased the iodine adsorption number of biochars. Given the effects of pyrolysis conditions on the pH and iodine adsorption number of biochars, low-ash agricultural wastes (e.g. wheat straw) can be pyrolysed at 300°C, 2 h to produce biochar for improving alkaline soils; high-ash agricultural wastes (e.g. sweet potato vine) and forest litter (e.g. fresh leaves of apricot tree) are preferably pyrolysed at 300°C, 4 h to produce biochar for use in acidic soils.     

Rice Straw-Derived Biochar Properties and Functions as Cu(Ⅱ) and Cyromazine Sorbents as Influenced by Pyrolysis Temperature

In this study, biochars from rice straw(Oryza sativa L.) were prepared at 200–600?C by oxygen-limited pyrolysis to investigate the changes in properties of rice straw biochars produced at different temperatures, and to examine the adsorption capacities of the biochars for a heavy metal, copper(Ⅱ)(Cu(Ⅱ)), and an organic insecticide of cyromazine, as well as to further reveal the adsorption mechanisms.The results obtained with batch experiments showed that the amount of Cu(Ⅱ) adsorbed varied with the pyrolysis temperatures of rice straw biochar. The biochar produced at 400?C had the largest adsorption capacity for Cu(Ⅱ)(0.37 mol kg-1) among the biochars,with the non-electrostatic adsorption as the main adsorption mechanism. The highest adsorption capacity for cyromazine(156.42 g kg-1) was found in the rice straw biochar produced at 600?C, and cyromazine adsorption was exclusively predominated by surface adsorption. An obvious competitive adsorption was found between 5 mmol L-1Cu(II) and 2 g L-1cyromazine when they were in the binary solute system. Biochar may be used to remediate heavy metal- and organic insecticide-contaminated water, while the pyrolysis temperature of feedstocks for producing biochar should be considered for the restoration of multi-contamination.     

Effect of controlled-release urea on heavy metal mobility in a multimetal-contaminated soil

Controlled-release N fertilizers can affect the availability of heavy metals in the contaminated paddy soil.A soil incubation experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of prilled urea(PU),S-coated urea(SCU),and polymer-coated urea(PCU)on the solubility and availability of heavy metals Cd,Pb,Cu,and Zn in a multimetal-contaminated soil.The results showed that the application of different coated urea significantly affected the solubility and availability of heavy metals.At 5 d of incubation,the application of PU,SCU,and PCU had significantly decreased the concentrations of water-soluble and available Cd,Pb,Cu,and Zn,when compared with the control.At 60 d of incubation,the depletory effects of PU on water-soluble and available heavy metals had reduced,and the initial decrease in the concentrations of water-soluble Cd,Pb,Cu,and Zn caused by SCU had changed to an increase.The concentrations of water-soluble Pb,Cu,and Zn in the SCU-treated soil were higher than those in the control.Application with PCU led to a higher water-soluble Cu than that in the control,while the available Cd,Pb,and Zn were lower than those in the control.The effect of different coated urea was much stronger on the water solubility of the heavy metals than on their availability.The effects of controlled-release urea on the transformation of heavy metals resulted in changes in the concentrations of NH4^+,water-soluble SO4^2-,and soil p H.The results further suggested that PCU could be used in dry farming operations in multimetal-contaminated acid soils.     

Pig manure digestate-derived biochar for soil management and crop cultivation in heavy metals contaminated soil

Management of heavy metal-contaminated soil under drought and other harsh hydrological conditions is critical for protecting soil ecosystem services. In this study, we examined the effect of pig manure digestate-derived biochar as a soil amendment (15 t ha⁻¹) with N fertilizer (180 kg ha⁻¹) on soil and plant heavy metal levels and nutrient availability under various moisture regimes (optimal moisture ~15%, drought condition ≤5%, and flooded condition ≥35% wt.). It was observed that biochar applications significantly decreased heavy metals in the spring wheat plants, lowering Cr by 90%, Ni by 50%, Cd by 9% and Pb by 34% compared to non-biochar (control) treatments. However, the pig digestate-derived biochar increased heavy metals in soil under all moisture regimes, increasing soil Cr by 21%, Ni by 43%, Cu by 55%, Zn by 70%, and Pb by 12%. The availability of macroelements also increased with the biochar applications under the optimum moisture regimes in both soil and plants, increasing Mg²⁺ by 11%, P by 4%, K⁺ by 50%, and Ca²⁺ by 56% in the soil, and Mg²⁺ by 13%, P by 69%, K⁺ by 29, and Ca²⁺ by 39% in plants. Biochar addition also improved chlorophyll fluorescence (CF) levels in the crop for the entire season (12^th to 62^nd day) and the aboveground crop biomass and dry matter contents both increased. Consequently, the use of pig manure digestate-derived biochar with N fertilizer under normal moisture conditions was able to reduce heavy metal availability to plants and thus could be used in contaminated soils to maintain better crop growth and development.     

The importance of biochar quality and pyrolysis yield for soil carbon sequestration in practice

Biochar is a carbon (C)-rich material produced from biomass by anoxic or oxygen-limited thermal treatment known as pyrolysis. Despite substantial gaseous losses of C during pyrolysis, incorporating biochar in soil has been suggested as an effective long-term option to sequester CO₂ for climate change mitigation, due to the intrinsic stability of biochar C. However, no universally applicable approach that combines biochar quality and pyrolysis yield into an overall metric of C sequestration efficiency has been suggested yet. To ensure safe environmental use of biochar in agricultural soils, the International Biochar Initiative and the European Biochar Certificate have developed guidelines on biochar quality. In both guidelines, the hydrogen-to-organic C (H/C_org) ratio is an important quality criterion widely used as a proxy of biochar stability, which has been recognized also in the new EU regulation 2021/2088. Here, we evaluate the biochar C sequestration efficiency from published data that comply with the biochar quality criteria in the above guidelines, which may regulate future large-scale field application in practice. The sequestration efficiency is calculated from the fraction of biochar C remaining in soil after 100 years (F_perm) and the C-yield of various feedstocks pyrolyzed at different temperatures. Both parameters are expressed as a function of H/C_org. Combining these two metrics is relevant for assessing the mitigation potential of the biochar economy. We find that the C sequestration efficiency for stable biochar is in the range of 25%–50% of feedstock C. It depends on the type of feedstock and is in general a non-linear function of H/C_org. We suggest that for plant-based feedstock, biochar production that achieves H/C_org of 0.38–0.44, corresponding to pyrolysis temperatures of 500–550°C, is the most efficient in terms of soil carbon sequestration. Such biochars reveal an average sequestration efficiency of 41.4% (±4.5%) over 100 years.     

Suitability of soil microbial parameters as indicators of heavy metal pollution

Several microbial parameters (microbial biomass, respiration, dehydrogenase, phosphatase, sulphatase, glucosidase, protease and urease activities) were measured in soils from five sites located in urban green areas close to roads differing in traffic density. Our aims were to evaluate the suitability of such parameters as field biomarkers of stress induced by heavy metal pollution, and to compare results obtained by single microbial parameters with results given by an index expressing the average microbial (AME) response of the microbial community. Data showed that all parameters were significantly reduced in the sites characterized by the highest load of metals in soil. Dehydrogenase, sulphatase, glucosidase activities and respiration, declined exponentially with increasing metal concentration, whereas phosphatase activity and AME decreased following a sigmoidal type relationship. In contrast, protease, urease and microbial biomass were not significantly correlated with soil metal concentration. Microbial parameters differed both in sensitivity to critical metal concentrations and in the rate of decline at increasing metal loads in soil. Due to the complex interplay of chemical, physical and biological factors which influence microbial activities and biomass, the proposed index (AME) appeared more suitable than single microbial parameters for a biomonitoring study of this type.