Characterisation and evaluation of biochars for their application as a soil amendment

Soil Research ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 48 (7) ◽  
pp. 516 ◽  
Author(s):  
Balwant Singh ◽  
Bhupinder Pal Singh ◽  
Annette L. Cowie

Biochar properties can be significantly influenced by feedstock source and pyrolysis conditions; this warrants detailed characterisation of biochars for their application to improve soil fertility and sequester carbon. We characterised 11 biochars, made from 5 feedstocks [Eucalyptus saligna wood (at 400°C and 550°C both with and without steam activation); E. saligna leaves (at 400°C and 550°C with activation); papermill sludge (at 550°C with activation); poultry litter and cow manure (each at 400°C without activation and at 550°C with activation)] using standard or modified soil chemical procedures. Biochar pH values varied from near neutral to highly alkaline. In general, wood biochars had higher total C, lower ash content, lower total N, P, K, S, Ca, Mg, Al, Na, and Cu contents, and lower potential cation exchange capacity (CEC) and exchangeable cations than the manure-based biochars, and the leaf biochars were generally in-between. Papermill sludge biochar had the highest total and exchangeable Ca, CaCO3 equivalence, total Cu, and potential CEC, and the lowest total and exchangeable K. Water-soluble salts were higher in the manure-based biochars, followed by leaf, papermill sludge, and wood biochars. Total As, Cd, Pb, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the biochars were either very low or below detection limits. In general, increase in pyrolysis temperature increased the ash content, pH, and surface basicity and decreased surface acidity. The activation treatment had a little effect on most of the biochar properties. X-ray diffraction analysis showed the presence of whewellite in E. saligna biochars produced at 400°C, and the whewellite was converted to calcite in biochars formed at 550°C. Papermill sludge biochar contained the largest amount of calcite. Water-soluble salts and calcite interfered with surface charge measurements and should be removed before the surface charge measurements of biochar. The biochars used in the study ranged from C-rich to nutrient-rich to lime-rich soil amendment, and these properties could be optimised through feedstock formulation and pyrolysis temperature for tailored soil application.

2016 ◽  
Vol 74 (7) ◽  
pp. 1744-1751 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liang Yan ◽  
Di Lv ◽  
Xinwen Huang ◽  
Huixiang Shi ◽  
Geshan Zhang

The adsorption behavior of pharmaceuticals and personal care product, Bisphenol-A (BPA), according to four coal-based and four wood-based granular activated carbons modified using outgassing treatment, acidic treatment or alkaline treatment was studied. The adsorption isotherm results indicated that carbon surface acidity played a very important role in the adsorption of BPA. It was found that increasing surface acidity would increase the hydrogen bonding effects and increase adsorption of BPA on activated carbon. The acidic modified sample (F600-A and OLC-A) represented the best adsorption capacity, and the equilibrium adsorption amounts reached 346.42 and 338.55 mg/g, respectively. Further, effects of surface charge and surface basicity were examined. It was found that the adsorbed amount of BPA decreased with the increase of surface charge. Finally, there appeared to be a significant oligomerization phenomenon with BPA molecules onto the surface of activated carbon. OLC and OLC-OG, which have higher micropore percentages, are very effective in hampering the oligomerization of BPA under oxic conditions.


2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 2132-2138
Author(s):  
Virsa Handayani ◽  
Rezki Amriati Syarif ◽  
Ahmad Najib ◽  
Aktsar Roskiana Ahmad ◽  
Abdullah Mahmud ◽  
...  

Mahogany (Swietenia mahagoni (L.) Jacq) is one of the plants that is often used by the community as traditional medicine. One of them is antifungal, antibacterial, antidiabetic, and eczema. This study aims to obtain standardized extracts from mahogany seeds and leaves. Standardization of purified extract of mahogany has been carried out according to the monographs of extract standardization guidelines, which include testing of specific and non-specific parameters. The results of the specific parameter testing showed that the purified extract of mahogany seeds is a thick extract, brown to reddish, smells distinctive and has a bitter taste. While the purified extract of mahogany leaves is a thick extract, greenish-brown in color, distinctive smell and has a bitter taste. The chemical content of purified extract of mahogany seeds and leaves showed the presence of flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids and saponins. Water-soluble essence levels in mahogany seeds and leaves was 14.84% and 10.28%. While the ethanol-soluble essence levels in mahogany seeds and leaves were 15.38% and 12.43%. Testing of non-specific parameters on mahogany seeds and leaves showed the results of drying shrinkage levels of 0.22% and 8.84%, moisture content of 2.60% and 4.04%, total ash content of 1.71% and 1.93%, levels acidic insoluble ash 0.38% and 0.32%, Total Plate Number (ALT) of mahogany seed bacteria 1x102 colonies/g, Number of mahogany mold seeds 4x10 colonies/g, heavy metal lead contamination and cadmium in mahogany seeds 0.0607µg/g and<0.003µg/g. The inhibitory diameter of each concentration of seeds against Escherichia coli, 3%, 5%, 7%, and 9%, is 12,67; 13,67; 17,67; and 19,67 mm, respectively. The inhibitory diameter of each concentration of leaves against Escherichia coli, 3%, 5%, 7%, and 9%, is 10,27; 10,90; 13,46; and 15,68 mm, respectively.


1983 ◽  
Vol 48 (4) ◽  
pp. 1173-1186 ◽  
Author(s):  
Václav Bártl ◽  
Jiří Holubek ◽  
Emil Svátek ◽  
Marie Bartošová ◽  
Miroslav Protiva

Reactions of 10-(4-aminopiperazino)-10,11-dihydrodibenzo[b,f]thiepins XIVa-XIVd with benzaldehyde, 3,4-dimethoxybenzaldehyde, 4-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde, salicylaldehyde, 3-ethoxy-4-hydroxybenzaldehyde, 2-(2-dimethylaminoethoxy)benzaldehyde, 3-(2-dimethylaminoethoxy)benzaldehyde and 3-ethoxy-4-(2-dimethylaminoethoxy)benzaldehyde afforded a series of 19 hydrazones IIIa-Xc. Some of them showed the expected anticonvulsant effect but only towards pentetrazole; antagonism of maximal electroshock seizures was not observed. In general, the products have a character of tranquillizers: in higher does they produce central depression, potentiate the thiopental sleeping time, have hypothermic action; in single cases antiamphetamine, antireserpine, antihistamine and cataleptic effects were observed. The water-soluble salts of the basic hydrazones VIIIa, VIIIc, IXc and Xc, administered parenterally, showed a rather high acute toxicity and revealed also adrenolytic and hypotensive activity.


Author(s):  
Wen ◽  
Wu ◽  
Yang ◽  
Jiang ◽  
Zhong

Nutrients released from sediments have a significant influence on the water quality in eutrophic lakes and reservoirs. To clarify the internal nutrient load and provide reference for eutrophication control in Yuqiao Reservoir, a drinking water source reservoir in China, pore water profiles and sediment core incubation experiments were conducted. The nutrients in the water (soluble reactive P (SRP), nitrate-N (NO3−-N), nitrite-N (NO2−-N), and ammonium-N (NH4+-N)) and in the sediments (total N (TN), total P (TP) and total organic carbon (TOC)) were quantified. The results show that NH4+-N was the main component of inorganic N in the pore water. NH4+-N and SRP were higher in the pore water than in the overlying water, and the concentration gradient indicated a diffusion potential from the sediment to the overlying water. The NH4+-N, NO3−-N, and SRP fluxes showed significant differences amongst the seasons. The NH4+-N and SRP fluxes were significantly higher in the summer than in other seasons, while NO3−-N was higher in the autumn. The sediment generally acted as a source of NH4+-N and SRP and as a sink for NO3−-N and NO2−-N. The sediments release 1133.15 and 92.46 tons of N and P, respectively, to the overlying water each year.


2014 ◽  
Vol 89 ◽  
pp. 268-274 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pujun Jin ◽  
Weiqiang Zhang ◽  
Quanjun Wang ◽  
Xiaogang Yang ◽  
Sheng Sun ◽  
...  

1988 ◽  
Vol 55 (4) ◽  
pp. 585-596 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Polychroniadou

SummaryA simple, rapid and sensitive spectrophotometric assay was developed and evaluated for monitoring proteolysis during cheese ripening, based on the fact that α-amino groups released by hydrolysis of cheese proteins react with trinitrobenzenesulphonic acid to form products that absorb strongly at 420 nm. A linear relationship was shown to exist between A420 and concentration of free α amino groups up to 0·5 HIM (r = 0·999, 38 df, P < 0·001). Repeatability of the method was satisfactory. The coefficient of variance was 0·53% for amino acid solutions and 1·19% for cheese extracts. Average recovery of glycine added to the cheese was 104 ± 2·9%. A comparison of the above method with that of determination of water-soluble N to total N ratio showed that there was good agreement between these two methods of assessment of proteolysis in cheese (r = 0·857, 32 df, P < 0·001). Mainly Feta and Teleme cheese were examined, but a similar correlation was obtained with hard Greek cheeses. Analytical conditions of the procedure are discussed.


2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Andini Andini ◽  
Cindy Fernanda Putri

Mango peel (Mangfera indica L.) has many pharmacological effects as a traditional medicine. Therefore, standardization of mango peel simplisia needs to be done as a preparation of phytopharmaca raw material. This research aimed to obtain standardization of mango peel simplisia include specific and non-specific parameter. The research procedures include plant determination, simplisia preparation as well as specific standardization test (includes organoleptic, water-soluble compound concentration, and ethanol solution compound concentration) and nonspecific standardization test (includes moisture content, dried shrinkage, total ash content and acid insoluble ash content). The specific organoleptic parameters of dried mango peel simplisia have a distinctive sweet aroma, bitter taste, and brownish yellow colour. Water-soluble and ethanol-soluble concentrations are 22,36% ± 1,17% and 9,56% ± 0,07%. Moisture content is 9,09% ± 1,44%. Dried shrinkage rate is 0,19% ± 0,04%. Total ash and acid insoluble ash contents are 4,11% ± 0,10% and 0,14% ± 0,03%. The mango peel simplisia has met the quality standard of the raw material.


2019 ◽  
Vol 64 (1) ◽  
pp. 96-100 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. V. Savenko ◽  
V. S. Savenko

The content of water-soluble salts in samples of surface soils from arid regions and separated from them fraction <0.1 mm was analyzed. Existence of salt fractionation in the aleurite was shown. The fractionation coefficients, defined as the ratio of ions concentrations in the water extracts from fraction <0.1 mm and soil as a whole, are arranged in the successions: Na > K > Mg > Ca and SO4 > HCO3 > Cl. It was found that the fractionation of salts depends on their solubility: than solubility below, that enrichment of soils fine fraction is more.


1968 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. K. Ballantyne

The B, C1 and a C2 horizon were sampled from 26 Solonetz and 35 Orthic Chernozemic profiles. Water-soluble analyses were done on all samples. Soil profiles developed from saline parent material may be in either the Solonetzic or Chernozemic Order. Eighty-eight percent of the Solonetz and 34% of the Chernozemic profiles were developed on saline C2 horizons. Seventy-three percent of the Solonetz were developed on C2 horizons that were saline and contained over 40% water-soluble sodium. No Chernozemics developed on this type of C2 material. Forty-nine percent of the Chernozemics developed on non-saline, low-sodium C2 horizons. No Solonetz profiles developed on this type of C2 horizon. This information could be used to assist in the classification of Solonetzic and Chernozemic soils. The pH of the B, C1 or C2 horizons was of no value in distinguishing between Solonetzic and Chernozemic soils.


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