制炭条件对生物炭碱性基团含量及酸性土壤改良效果的影响

采用不同粒径(0.5,0.25~0.5,0.25mm)的4种原材料(椰糠、木薯秸秆、桉树枝、猪粪),通过不同热解温度(300,400,500,600℃)炭化不同时间(1,2,3,5h)制备生物炭,探讨制炭条件对生物炭碱性基团含量的影响,并探索生物炭改良酸性土壤pH的影响因素。结果表明,不同制炭条件所制备的生物炭均呈碱性,碱性基团含量范围为0.40~1.05mmol/g。不同原材料生物炭碱性基团含量呈现猪粪木薯秸秆椰糠桉树枝的规律。随着热解温度的升高、热解时间的延长及原材料粉碎粒度的减小,生物炭碱性基团含量呈增加趋势。研究还表明,添加生物炭能显著提高酸性土壤pH,其改良酸性土壤的能力随碱性基团含量的增加而增强。原材料粉碎粒度减小、热解温度升高和热解时间延长及用量增加,均能有效提升生物炭改良酸性土壤pH的效果。     

温度及过筛方式对猪粪和稻秆炭理化特性和镉吸附的影响

该文以猪粪、水稻秸秆为原料,采用2种过筛处理(热解前、后过筛),于300~700℃下制备生物炭,通过电镜扫描(scanning electron microscope,SEM)、X射线衍射(X-ray diffraction,XRD)和傅里叶变换红外光谱(Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy,FTIR)对其进行表征并分析其理化性质,探讨不同处理生物炭理化性质及镉吸附能力之间的相关关系,并优选出以修复土壤镉污染为目标的生物炭处理。结果表明:1)稻秆生物炭的镉吸附能力(最大吸附量为69.2 mg/g)显著高于猪粪生物炭(最大吸附量为36.4 mg/g)。制备温度为300℃时,前、后过筛处理的稻秆生物炭对镉的吸附能力分别为10.6和11.5 mg/g;制备温度为700℃时分别增加至61.4和69.2 mg/g。前后过筛方式对稻秆和猪粪生物炭镉吸附的影响规律不明显。2)生物炭的产率与灰分含量显著负相关,与H/C极显著正相关。3)前、后过筛处理的稻秆生物炭以及前过筛处理的猪粪生物炭的镉吸附能力均与产率和H/C呈显著负相关。后过筛处理猪粪生物炭的镉吸附能力与所有理化性质均不显著相关。     

不同类型生物炭理化特性及其对土壤持水性的影响

[目的]对比分析不同原料制备的生物炭的理化性质及其对土壤持水性的影响,为选择合适的生物炭改良和修复土壤提供理论依据。[方法]以鸡粪、浒苔及稻草为原料,分高、中、低3种不同温度制备生物炭,运用元素分析、盆栽培养等试验研究其特性。[结果]稻草中C,H及灰分的含量较高,鸡粪中N含量较高,浒苔中C含量低,O含量较高;而在制备的生物炭中,鸡粪基生物炭C和N含量较高,浒苔基生物C含量却比较低。另外,3种类型生物炭的H/C摩尔比值随着热解温度的升高而逐渐降低,C/N比随着热解温度的升高而增大。不同原料制备的生物炭pH值随着热解温度的升高而增大,pH值从6.82~8.35升高至9.33~10.29;3种类型的生物炭pH值随着灰分含量的增大而增大,但增长速率不同,稻草基生物炭浒苔基生物炭鸡粪基生物炭。并且,随着热解温度的升高,鸡粪、浒苔及稻草基生物炭引起土壤持水性逐渐增强。[结论]在土壤提供营养成分方面,鸡粪基生物炭显然更具优势,而且在促进土壤持水性方面,鸡粪生物炭也相对更强一些。     

花生秸秆生物炭输入对棕壤中铜形态转化及其有效性的影响

人工模拟铜污染棕壤,通过添加不同裂解温度(350℃、500℃和650℃)和不同施用量(2%和4%)的花生秸秆生物炭,探究生物炭输入对土壤pH和铜形态(Tessier连续提取法)的影响,分析生物炭输入对棕壤铜生物有效性的影响机制。结果表明:随着制备温度的升高,生物炭产率、平均孔径减小,pH、灰分、阳离子交换量(CEC)和比表面积增大;施加生物炭提高了土壤pH,土壤pH与交换态铜含量成负相关,且随生物炭裂解温度和添加量的增加而升高;施炭量一定条件下,随着输入生物炭裂解温度的升高,土壤交换态铜、铁锰氧化物结合态铜含量显著减少(P0.05),有机化合态铜含量显著增加(P0.05),残渣态含量增多,其中650℃裂解温度生物炭处理对降低土壤铜有效性效果最好;在相同的裂解温度下,随着施炭量增加,土壤交换态、碳酸盐结合态和铁锰氧化物结合态铜含量减少,有机化合态铜和残渣态铜含量增多,其中以4%施炭量处理对降低土壤有效态铜的效果最优。研究结果表明,生物炭裂解温度和添加量是影响棕壤pH和铜生物有效性的因子,其中SP4-650处理最有利于降低棕壤中铜生物有效性。     

皇竹草生物炭的结构特征及其对（）的吸附性能

以皇竹草茎秆为原料,在限氧控温（300、500、700℃）条件下制备生物炭,研究该生物炭的结构特征及其对Cr（Ⅵ）的吸附行为。结果发现,随着热解温度的升高,皇竹草生物炭的产率下降,而灰分、pH呈上升趋势;电镜扫描（SEM）观察可见不同热解温度下所制备的生物炭结构相似,均具多孔和管状结构,但在700℃条件下所制备的生物炭相对300℃下制备的生物炭孔壁变薄,且孔壁有附着物,切面有突起结构。三种温度下制备的皇竹草生物炭对溶液中的Cr（Ⅵ）都具有较好的吸附作用,且500、700℃下制备的生物炭比300℃下制备的生物炭具有更好的吸附效果。在0~1 h之间,三种热解温度下制备的生物炭对铬的吸附量均随着时间的延长而快速增加,当吸附至1h时,基本达到饱和状态,随后吸附量无明显变化。     

磁改性柚子皮与杏仁壳生物炭的理化性质研究

分别以柚皮和杏壳为原料经磁改性热解制备生物炭,考察磁改性处理在不同温度下(300～600℃)对材料理化特性的影响。结果表明:磁改性生物炭中铁主要以Fe3O4的形式存在,少量与铝、镁等形成复杂矿质氧化物。磁改性处理生物炭灰分与挥发分增加,而固定碳和热值均明显降低,且这种增加/降低的效应随温度升高而加剧。比表面积和总孔容均增大,而平均孔径减小。磁改性处理对2种原料生物炭的pH值影响不同:磁改性杏壳生物炭的pH值整体较原生生物炭降低;而在400～600℃温度范围,磁改性柚皮生物炭的pH值明显升高。FTIR分析表明磁改性杏壳400与600℃热解炭含氧基团(酚羟基伸缩振动)特征峰明显增强,这也解释了其较原生生物炭灰分增加而pH值却降低的现象。     

制炭温度对玉米和小麦生物质炭理化性质的影响

通过缓慢高温裂解方式生产不同温度的小麦和玉米生物质炭,并对其性质进行分析.结果显示,生物质炭性质受裂解温度和生物质种类的影响而表现出差异.当裂解温度从300℃升高到500℃时,小麦生物质炭产率从44.3％降低到38.4％,其生物质炭碳含量从617.9 g/kg升高到674.0 g/kg;玉米生物质炭产率从42.8％(300℃)降低到29.7％(500℃),其生物质炭碳含量从574.8 g/kg(300℃)升高到651.1 g/kg(500℃).生物质炭pH、灰分含量、全磷含量等也随制炭温度升高而升高,小麦生物质炭pH从7.59(300℃)上升到10.51(500℃),灰分含量从186.1 g/kg(300℃)升高到268.2 g/kg(500℃),全磷含量从0.70 g/kg(300℃)升高到1.10 g/kg(500℃);玉米生物质炭pH从9.35(300℃)升高到10.12(500℃),全磷含量从2.34 g/kg(300℃)升高到4.37 g/kg(500℃).说明制炭温度和生物质种类对生物质炭理化性质具有决定性作用.     

秸秆生物炭对棕壤中Cu(Ⅱ)的吸附效应及影响因素

以棉花、花生秸秆为原料,采用限氧热裂解法分别于350℃、500℃、650℃下制备生物炭,通过等温吸附和吸附动力学实验,研究两种秸秆生物炭对棕壤中Cu(Ⅱ)的吸附特性和修复效应。结果表明:随裂解温度上升,秸秆生物炭的碳化程度和BET比表面积增加,而含氧官能团、H/C和O/C的比值则减少,且花生秸秆生物炭的芳香化程度、碳化程度和比表面积均高于棉花秸秆生物炭;不同温度梯度制备的生物炭在吸附效果及机制方面存在差异,秸秆生物炭对Cu(Ⅱ)的吸附效果与Lagergren动力学方程的二级动力学方程、Langmuir等温方程可以较好拟合;随着pH的升高,吸附量均增加,吸附量在6.5时达到最大,且花生生物炭的吸附量大于棉花生物炭;SEM电镜扫描图展示了花生秸秆生物炭的表面特征和孔隙结构比棉花明显;FTIR谱图分析表明秸秆生物炭含氧官能团含量随裂解温度的升高而减少。综上,花生秸秆生物炭对山东棕壤重金属污染的修复效果更优。     

不同炭化温度下玉米秸秆和沙蒿生物炭的结构特征及化学特性

掌握不同生物炭材料的结构特征和化学特性是合理利用生物炭的基础。通过无氧炭化法制备了不同炭化温度下的玉米秸秆生物炭和沙蒿生物炭,对比了不同材料和不同炭化温度下生物炭性质的差异。结果表明:炭化温度低于400℃时,两种材料生物炭的孔隙结构保存完整,600℃以上时,两种材料生物炭的蜂窝状结构均遭到破坏,玉米秸秆生物炭被破坏得更严重;同一炭化温度下,玉米秸秆生物炭的比表面积及总孔容和平均孔径均大于沙蒿生物炭,两种生物炭的比表面积随炭化温度的升高均增大,总孔容呈"V"形变化;两种材料的生物炭均呈碱性,炭化温度越高,pH越大,400℃~800℃,每升高10℃,玉米秸秆生物炭和沙蒿生物炭的pH均以0.02的幅度增加,同一温度下,玉米秸秆生物炭的pH大于沙蒿生物炭,在400℃、600℃和800℃下分别比沙蒿生物炭高0.31、0.35和0.29单位;随炭化温度的升高,玉米秸秆生物炭和沙蒿生物炭的C、P、K和灰分含量增加,400℃~800℃,玉米秸秆生物炭的C、P、K含量以炭化温度每升高10℃分别增加2.94、0.11、0.20 g/kg的幅度变化,沙蒿生物炭也以4.35、0.07、0.24 g/kg的幅度增加,与此同时,玉米秸秆生物炭的N、H含量以每升高10℃分别以0.13 g/kg和0.86 g/kg的幅度降低,沙蒿生物炭的N、H含量分别以0.04 g/kg和0.82 g/kg的幅度下降,S含量无明显变化,C/N和C/H增大,且不同材料生物炭的元素含量差异显著;两种材料生物炭的N、P、K有效性随炭化温度的升高均下降,400℃~600℃,玉米秸秆生物炭和沙蒿生物炭的速效N含量分别下降了57.89%和19.05%,800℃时两种生物炭的速效N均接近0 mg/kg,400℃~800℃玉米秸秆生物炭和沙蒿生物炭的速效P含量分别降低了67.41%和52.36%,此时速效K含量也分别降低了45.62%和90.16%。总之,不同材料和炭化温度对生物炭的物理特征和化学特性都有较大影响。     

不同热解温度限氧制备的畜禽粪便生物炭养分特征

为了分析畜禽粪便生物炭中的养分特征变化,以鸡粪、猪粪渣和牛粪为原料,采用限氧控温法制备生物炭,研究了不同热解温度（350、450、550、650和750 ℃）的畜禽粪便生物炭灰分含量,C含量、大量和中微量元素养分含量及其残留率的变化,并分析了C/N比值,原材料与炭化产品养分含量、及热解温度和生物炭养分特征的相关性。结果表明,随着热解温度的升高,畜禽粪便生物炭C、N含量逐渐下降,灰分含量和P、K、Ca、Mg、Fe、Mn养分含量逐渐增加。高温热解虽增加畜禽粪便生物炭的养分总量和C/N比值,但也降低了各养分残留率。综合分析表明,畜禽粪便生物炭养分含量及其残留率与原材料中的养分含量、热解温度密切相关,其中与热解温度相关性显著。因此,选择高C和高养分含量的畜禽粪便原材料是提升生物炭养分含量的基础,而适宜温度是保留生物炭较高养分残留率的关键。该研究中畜禽粪便适宜热解温度为450 ℃,该温度下各生物炭的养分残留率整体表现为牛粪>猪粪渣>鸡粪。     

Interactions of simazine, metsulfuron-methyl, and tetracycline with biochars and soil as a function of molecular structure

Purpose

Biochars are increasingly recognized as effective, inexpensive, and environmentally friendly sorbents for abating organic contaminants. In this study, the sorption and competitive sorption characteristics of simazine (SZ), metsulfuron-methyl (ME), and tetracycline (TC) to corn straw biochars and soil were examined to understand the interactions of herbicides and antibiotics with biochars and the potential role of biochars as engineered sorbents.

Materials and methods

Biochars were obtained by pyrolyzing corn straw at 400, 500, and 600 °C for 6 h under oxygen-limited conditions and were characterized via elemental analysis, N₂-BET surface area determination, ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Soil was collected from North Tanggu Farm in Tianjin, and its organic carbon, cation exchange capacity, and particle size distribution were analyzed. The batch sorption experiments were performed to obtain the sorption isotherms of SZ, ME, and TC to biochars and soil.

Results and discussion

The biochars that were pyrolyzed at higher temperatures had higher sorption affinities for SZ, ME, and TC, which may be due to the enhancement of hydrophobic interactions, charge transfer (π–π*) interactions, and pore-filling mechanism. The sorption affinities for these compounds to all biochars decreased in the order SZ?>?TC?>?ME, indicating that the neutral molecule with a stronger hydrophobicity is more easily adsorbed by biochars. For soil, the decrease of the sorption affinities followed the order TC?>?SZ?>?ME due to the high sorption affinity of TC with clays in the soil. Moreover, the sorption affinities of TC by biochars were lower than by soil, indicating that corn straw biochars may be not an ideal sorbent for the immobilization of TC. Biochars were much more effective in sorbing SZ and ME than soil, indicating that corn straw biochars can potentially prevent transport of the herbicides to surface and ground water. Nevertheless, the presence of TC significantly hinders biochar adsorption of SZ and ME, implying that the coexisting contaminants should be considered when developing biochars as engineered sorbents.

Conclusions

The observations in this study demonstrated that the sorption of organic contaminants by biochars is dependent on the properties of the biochars and the molecular structures of the contaminants. Corn straw biochars effectively retain SZ and ME and hinder their transportation to surface and ground water; however, the coexisting contaminants should be considered. Our results will be helpful for designing biochars as engineered sorbents for environmental applications.     

土壤微生物对不同粒径、不同表面和孔隙性质生物炭的响应

Biochars are known for their heterogeneity, especially in pore and surface structure associated with pyrolysis processes and sources of feedstocks. The surface area of biochar is likely to be an important determinant of the extent of soil microbial attachment, whereas the porous structure of biochar is expected to provide protection for soil microorganisms. Potential interactions between biochars from different sources and with different particle sizes were investigated in relation to soil microbial properties in a short-term incubation study. Three particle size(sieved) fractions(0.5–1.0, 1.0–2.0 and 2.0–4.0 mm) from three woody biochars produced from jarrah wood,jarrah and wandoo wood and Australian wattle branches, respectively, were incubated in soil at 25?C for 56 d. Observation by scanning electron microscopy(SEM) and characterisation of pore and surface area showed that all three woody biochars provided potential habitats for soil microorganisms due to their high porosity and surface areas. The biochars were structurally heterogeneous,varying in porosity and surface structure both within and between the biochar sources. After the 56-d incubation, hyphal colonisation was observed on biochar surfaces and in larger biochar pores. Soil clumping occurred on biochar particles, cementing and covering exposed biochar pores. This may have altered surface area and pore availability for microbial colonisation. Transient changes in soil microbial biomass, without a consistent trend, were observed among biochars during the 56-d incubation.     

Retention and release of diethyl phthalate in biochar-amended vegetable garden soils

Purpose

Diethyl phthalate (DEP) is one of the most commonly used plasticizers as well as a soil contaminant. Using biochar to remediate soils contaminated with DEP can potentially reduce the bioavailability of DEP and improve soil properties. Therefore, a laboratory study was conducted to evaluate the effect of biochar on soil adsorption and desorption of DEP.

Materials and methods

Two surface soils (0–20 cm) with contrasting organic carbon (OC) contents were collected from a vegetable garden. Biochars were derived from bamboo (BB) and rice straw (SB) that were pyrolyzed at 350 and 650 °C. Biochars were added to two types of soil at rates of 0.1 and 0.5 % (w/w). A batch equilibration method was used to measure DEP adsorption-desorption in biochar treated and untreated soils at 25 °C. The adsorption and desorption isotherms of DEP in the soils with or without biochar were evaluated using the Freundlich model.

Results and discussion

The biochar treatments significantly enhanced the soil adsorption of DEP. Compared to the untreated low organic matter soil, the soils treated with 0.5 % 650BB increased the adsorption by more than 19,000 times. For the straw biochar treated soils, the increase of DEP adsorption followed the order 350SB?>?650SB. However, for the bamboo biochars, the order was 650BB?>?350BB. Bamboo biochars were more effective than the straw biochars in improving soils’ adsorption capacity and reducing the desorption ability of DEP.

Conclusions

Adding biochar to soil can significantly enhance soil’s adsorption capacity on DEP. The 650BB amended soil showed the highest adsorption capacity for DEP. The native soil OC contents had significant effects on the soils’ sorption capacity treated with 650BB, whereas they had negligible effects on the other biochar treatments. The sorption capacity was affected by many factors such as the feedstock materials and pyrolysis temperature of biochars, the pH value of biochar, and the soil organic carbon levels.     

秸秆生物质炭吸附溶液中Cu2+ 的影响因素研究

生物质炭在吸附土壤中重金属和有机污染物方面发挥着重要作用,然而关于生物质炭吸附重金属的影响因素研究较少。以小麦和玉米秸秆为原料制备生物质炭,分析了生物质炭和溶液性质对水溶液中Cu2+吸附的影响。结果表明生物质炭可有效吸附Cu2+,且不易解吸。Cu2+吸附量随pH和Cu2+初始浓度的升高而增加;高温炭对Cu2+的吸附随离子强度增强而增大;柠檬酸抑制低温炭对Cu2+的吸附,而腐植酸促进Cu2+吸附;生物质炭灰分对Cu2+吸附无显著影响。     

Variations in mineral element concentrations of poultry manure biochar obtained at different pyrolysis temperatures,and their effects on crop growth and mineral nutrition

The effect of pyrolysis temperature on the nutritional quality of agricultural biochar is unclear, so better understanding of its properties and how it affects soil nutrient availability and plant growth is needed. Biochars obtained at different pyrolysis temperatures (250, 300, 350 and 400 °C) were characterized by thermogravimetric analyser and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Biochars were applied at a rate of 10 g/kg to find out their effects on the mineral nutrition and growth of lettuce. The experimental results suggested that high biochar temperatures caused oxidation of the mineral elements, breaking of C–C and C–H bonds and removal of aliphatic and peptide groups from the pyrolysed materials. The total concentrations of phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn) and boron (B) were increased by increasing pyrolysis temperatures, although water‐soluble concentrations of those elements were greatly reduced (with the exception of K and B). Compared to the control, dry weights of lettuce and maize crops were significantly increased by the biochar treatments obtained at 300 and 350 °C. Biochar treatments significantly increased the P and K concentrations of both plants compared to the control, while concentrations of Ca and Mg in lettuce plants were decreased. Iron, Mn and B concentration of the lettuce plants were reduced and Zn concentration of maize increased by the biochar treatments. It was concluded that in terms of an agricultural product, biochars produced at low temperature are better.     

不同热解温度制备的烟秆生物炭理化特征分析

分别对100～800℃下于马弗炉中低氧炭化制备的烟秆生物炭进行研究,分析其基础理化性质的变化.结果表明,烟草秸秆生物炭微量元素含量在热解温度为100～400℃时呈逐渐上升的趋势,在400～500℃时较为稳定;大量元素含量增加;C含量和N元素含量在100～300℃时逐渐增加,在400～800℃时先增加后下降,C/N在30...     

三种改性小麦秸秆生物炭表征及其对Cu2+的吸附性能

为研究改性生物炭在水溶液中对Cu2+的吸附性能,利用硅酸钠溶液、氯化镁溶液、过氧化氢溶液制备了3种不同改性小麦秸秆生物炭,通过使用扫描电镜-X射线能量色散光谱（scanning electron microscopy combined with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy,SEM-EDS）和傅里叶红外光谱（Fourier infrared spectroscopy,FTIR）等技术对改性前后的生物炭进行表征分析,探究其表面形貌、官能团等性质变化。硅酸钠改性生物炭（sodium silicate modified biochar,SBC）的比表面积与孔容最大,分别为43.69 m2/g、5.30 cm3/g,比未改性生物炭（biochar,BC）（6.02 m2/g、1.40 cm3/g）分别增加了6.25、2.79倍。由SEM-EDS结果表明,改性生物炭均出现C元素质量分数下降、O元素质量分数增加的现象,其中,SBC的C元素和O元素质量分数变化最大,且SBC和氯化镁改性生物炭（magnesium chloride modified biochar,MBC）上负载了大量含Si和Mg的颗粒。FTIR结果表明,改性处理均能增强官能团的峰值,硅酸钠改性增强程度最大。另外,过氧化氢改性生物炭（hydrogen peroxide modified biochar,HBC）、BC、MBC 和SBC对Cu2+的吸附动力学过程更符合准一级动力学模型,BC、MBC、SBC对Cu2+的等温吸附过程更符合Langmuir模型,HBC对Cu2+的等温吸附过程更符合Freundlich模型。分析吸附模型参数可知,改性生物炭MBC、SBC和HBC中,SBC对Cu2+的吸附能力更强,其理论吸附量可以达到230.20 mg/g,该结果可为改性生物炭对Cu2+污染水体的治理提供理论依据。     

生物质炭热解炭化条件及其性质的文献分析

【目的】因生物炭具有对土壤固碳减排和作物增产以及环境修复的作用，已受到国内外学者的广泛关注。本文回顾近年来生物质炭性质的相关研究，分析农业应用中生物质炭性质问题，阐述未来生物质炭性质研究发展趋势。【方法】收集了截至2015年12月文献出版物中402篇文献，对数据按生物质炭来源地区、生产 (制备) 条件和性质类别进行分类评价。【结果】1) 目前研究中应用的生物质炭68.2%为实验室制备，商业化生产比例只有22.9%；2) 生物质炭原料以林木为主，占44.3%，其次是农作物剩余物，占38.6%。作物秸秆制备的生物质炭以中国研究最多；3) 制备生物质炭的炭化温度范围在300～700℃ (91.4%)，400～600℃的温度范围以商业化生产中较常用；4) 生物质炭性质测定除总 (有机) 碳外，常测指标还包括pH、电导率、总氮、灰分和比表面积等，潜在污染物指标测定较少，而污泥炭中的重金属及植物源炭的多环芳烃潜在风险仍需研究；5) 生物质炭的研究制备原料基本上取决于该区域内可收集的废弃物，欧美地区主要关注林木生物质炭，亚洲等的发展中国家则着重研究秸秆生物质炭。【结论】与欧美国家相比，发展中国家的生物质炭商品化生产仍较薄弱。不同原料和温度生产的生物质炭性质和功能差别很大，以秸秆为原料、中温炭化的生物质炭各方面性质较为平衡，具备生物质炭大规模产业化的条件。此外，生物质炭性质的测试注重理化性状，对潜在风险污染物的分析普遍不足，亟需开发一个标准来规范生物质炭最小测试指标集和合适的测试方法选择。     

Biochar effects on soil biota - A review

Soil amendment with biochar is evaluated globally as a means to improve soil fertility and to mitigate climate change. However, the effects of biochar on soil biota have received much less attention than its effects on soil chemical properties. A review of the literature reveals a significant number of early studies on biochar-type materials as soil amendments either for managing pathogens, as inoculant carriers or for manipulative experiments to sorb signaling compounds or toxins. However, no studies exist in the soil biology literature that recognize the observed large variations of biochar physico-chemical properties. This shortcoming has hampered insight into mechanisms by which biochar influences soil microorganisms, fauna and plant roots. Additional factors limiting meaningful interpretation of many datasets are the clearly demonstrated sorption properties that interfere with standard extraction procedures for soil microbial biomass or enzyme assays, and the confounding effects of varying amounts of minerals. In most studies, microbial biomass has been found to increase as a result of biochar additions, with significant changes in microbial community composition and enzyme activities that may explain biogeochemical effects of biochar on element cycles, plant pathogens, and crop growth. Yet, very little is known about the mechanisms through which biochar affects microbial abundance and community composition. The effects of biochar on soil fauna are even less understood than its effects on microorganisms, apart from several notable studies on earthworms. It is clear, however, that sorption phenomena, pH and physical properties of biochars such as pore structure, surface area and mineral matter play important roles in determining how different biochars affect soil biota. Observations on microbial dynamics lead to the conclusion of a possible improved resource use due to co-location of various resources in and around biochars. Sorption and thereby inactivation of growth-inhibiting substances likely plays a role for increased abundance of soil biota. No evidence exists so far for direct negative effects of biochars on plant roots. Occasionally observed decreases in abundance of mycorrhizal fungi are likely caused by concomitant increases in nutrient availability, reducing the need for symbionts. In the short term, the release of a variety of organic molecules from fresh biochar may in some cases be responsible for increases or decreases in abundance and activity of soil biota. A road map for future biochar research must include a systematic appreciation of different biochar-types and basic manipulative experiments that unambiguously identify the interactions between biochar and soil biota.     

Influence of pyrolysis temperature on biochar property and function as a heavy metal sorbent in soil

While a large-scale soil amendment of biochars continues to receive interest for enhancing crop yields and to remediate contaminated sites, systematic study is lacking in how biochar properties translate into purported functions such as heavy metal sequestration. In this study, cottonseed hulls were pyrolyzed at five temperatures (200, 350, 500, 650, and 800 °C) and characterized for the yield, moisture, ash, volatile matter, and fixed carbon contents, elemental composition (CHNSO), BET surface area, pH, pHpzc, and by ATR-FTIR. The characterization results were compared with the literature values for additional source materials: grass, wood, pine needle, and broiler litter-derived biochars with and without post-treatments. At respective pyrolysis temperatures, cottonseed hull chars had ash content in between grass and wood chars, and significantly lower BET surface area in comparison to other plant source materials considered. The N:C ratio reached a maximum between 300 and 400 °C for all biomass sources considered, while the following trend in N:C ratio was maintained at each pyrolysis temperature: wood?cottonseed hull≈grass≈pine needle?broiler litter. To examine how biochar properties translate into its function as a heavy metal (NiII, CuII, PbII, and CdII) sorbent, a soil amendment study was conducted for acidic sandy loam Norfolk soil previously shown to have low heavy metal retention capacity. The results suggest that the properties attributable to the surface functional groups of biochars (volatile matter and oxygen contents and pHpzc) control the heavy metal sequestration ability in Norfolk soil, and biochar selection for soil amendment must be made case-by-case based on the biochar characteristics, soil property, and the target function.