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Nutrient alterations following biochar application to a Cd-contaminated solution and soil
Citation:
Cui, L., J. Ippolito, M. Noerpel, Kirk G. Scheckel, AND J. Yan. Nutrient alterations following biochar application to a Cd-contaminated solution and soil. Biochar Journal. Ithaka Institute for Carbon Intelligence , Arbaz, Switzerland, 3:457-468, (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42773-021-00106-1
Impact/Purpose:
Biochar is a carbon-enriched product typically created from waste biomass at moderate temperature (~450°C) and under a limited oxygen environment. Biochar creation leads to an end-product containing a complex structure, such as heterogeneous phases, graphene-like aggregates, nano-sized aromatic clusters, and interspersed ash which leads to biochar having the ability to reduce environmental heavy metal bioavailability. However, biochar application is typically multi-purposeful, used for 1) reducing heavy metal bioavailability, 2) releasing necessary elements (e.g., N, P, K, micronutrients) for plant growth, and 3) improving physico-chemical soil characteristics, all of which should improve plant growth. Many studies have reported the above three points. The effect of biochar on both nutrient availability and interactions with heavy metals have been adequately addressed. Yet lacking are more detailed, molecular-level analyses of in-situ biochar-metal-nutrient interactions. Thus, this study investigated the impact of biochar application in a Cd-containing aqueous solution and in a long-term, Cd contaminated soil experiment on trace metals fractions, sequestration, and bioavailability, combining wet chemical analyses findings with those from atomic level observations via X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) analysis.
Description:
Biochars, when applied to contaminated solutions or soils, may sequester potentially toxic elements while releasing necessary plant nutrients. This purpose of this study focused on quantifying both phenomenon following wheat straw (Triticum aestivum L.) biochar application (0, 5, and 15% by wt) to a Cd containing solution and a Cd-contaminated paddy soil using 240-day laboratory batch experiments. Following both experiments, solid phases were analyzed for elemental associations using a combination of wet chemical sequential extractions and synchrotron-based X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). When wheat straw biochar was applied at 15% to Cd containing solutions, Cd and Zn concentrations decreased to below detection in some instances, Ca and Mg concentrations increased by up to 290%, and solution pH increased as compared to the 5% biochar application rate. Similar responses were observed when biochar was added to the Cd-contaminated paddy soil, suggesting that this particular biochar has the ability to sequester potentially toxic elements while releasing necessary plant nutrients to the soil solution.
URLs/Downloads:
DOI: Nutrient alterations following biochar application to a Cd-contaminated solution and soil
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