Chapter 5 - Biochar for Mine Land Reclamation
Citation:
Ippolito, J., L. Cui, J. Novak, AND Mark G Johnson. Chapter 5 - Biochar for Mine Land Reclamation. Biochar from Biomass and Waste: Fundamentals and Applications. Elsevier Inc, Waltham, MA, , 75-90, (2019). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-811729-3.00005-4
Impact/Purpose:
Globally there are hundreds of thousands of abandoned mines. Many of these are generating acidity that increases metal solubility leading to a degradation of environmental quality. Biochar may have an important role in remediating these sites by reducing acidity and heavy metal contamination by increasing soil pH and increasing binding sites for chemical reactions to occur. Specifically, biochar can be engineered through feedstock selection and pyrolysis conditions to have acid neutralizing properties. Additionally, biochar can sequester heavy metals through various reactions, including precipitation or sorption to the biochar. Reducing soil acidity and metal availability with biochar additions improves soil health and the likelihood that mine residual stabilizing plants can be established leading to successful abandoned mine site reclamation. To utilize biochar in mine site reclamation it is important to identify the heavy metals of concern (e.g., Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn), an effective biochar and the correct biochar application rate. This chapter reviews the recent scientific literature with respect to biochar use for sequestering heavy metals from water and soils. It is anticipated that this will guide the reader to better understand the role biochar may play in mine land reclamation scenarios.
Description:
The number of abandoned mines globally is in the hundreds of thousands, with many mines capable of generating acidity, increasing metal solubility, and degrading environmental quality. Biochar may play a role in alleviating acidity and heavy metal contamination by increasing soil pH and increasing binding sites for chemical reactions to occur. Specifically, biochar can sequester heavy metals through various reactions, including precipitation or bound to organic and inorganic phases. Subsequently, plant growth conditions may be improved and abandoned mine site reclamation may become successful via biochar application. It is important to identify the heavy metals of concern (e.g., Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn), and the correct biochar application rate for their sequestration. This chapter reviews the recent literature with respect to biochar use for sequestering heavy metals from water and soils. It is anticipated that this will guide the reader to better understand the role biochar may play in mine land reclamation scenarios.
