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Sewage water is extensively used for irrigation, serving as a valuable resource for plant growth to enhance agricultural productivity. However, this practice also results in a significant accumulation of heavy metals in the soil, posing potential environmental and health risks. A study was designed to evaluate the combined effect of amendments on heavy metal immobilization in soil and improved growth and yield in pea plants. For this, the soil for each treatment was mixed with biochar (BC) (1% w/w), polyacrylamide (PAM) (0.5% w/w), and also applied in combination. Pea plants were irrigated with tap water (TW), sewage water (SW), and tap + sewage water (TW + SW). A factorial design was applied to analyze data statistically. The combined application of the biochar and polymer showed a positive response by significantly enhancing the plant growth parameters (39%-84%), physiological attributes (67%-69%), and reducing Cd (56%) and Cr (65%) concentration in soil applied with SW and TW + SW. Moreover, treatment with a combined application of BC and PAM significantly reduced Cd concentrations by 43% in roots, 50% in shoots, and 91% in grains. Similarly, Cr concentrations were reduced by 51% in roots, 51% in shoots, and 94% in grains compared to the control. Overall, the study results indicate reduced bioaccumulation and health risks associated with potentially toxic elements (PTEs), supporting the application of the polymer and biochar for irrigating pea plants with TW + SW. Leveraging the combined benefits of polymer and biochar amendments appears to be an effective strategy to remediate PTE-contaminated soil, thereby increasing plant growth and yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To reach the estimated food demands for 2050 in decreasingly suiting climates, current agricultural techniques have to be complemented by sustainably intensified practices. The current study repurposed wheat crop residues into biochar, and investigated its potential in different plant cultivation systems, including a hydroponic cultivation of wheat. Biochars resulting from varying pyrolysis parameters including feedstock composition (straw and chaff) and temperature (450°C and 600°C), were tested using a fast plant screening method. Biochar WBC450, produced from a combination of chaff and straw at 450°C, was selected for further plant experiments, and used in a static leaching experiment in the Arabidopsis thaliana cultivation medium. Increased pH and EC were observed, together with an increase of most macronutrient (K, Mg, P, S) and a decrease of most micronutrient (Fe, Mn, Zn) concentrations. Considering plant growth, application of biochar resulted in concentration-dependent effects in both tested plant species (A. thaliana and wheat). It improved the vegetative yield across all tested cultivation systems. Increases in K and S, and concentration-dependent decreases in Fe and Na content in wheatgrass were observed. Biochar influenced the reproduction of hydroponically cultivated wheat by increasing the number of spikes and the number of seeds per spike. The antioxidative capacity of wheat grass, and the seed sugar and starch contents remained unaffected by biochar application. This study contributes to innovation in soilless cultivation approaches of staple crops, within the framework of closing waste loops for a circular bioeconomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biochar and green manure have been widely applied in agricultural production and are important means to achieve sustainable agriculture. However, there is limited research systematically and comprehensively exploring the response of soil microbiota and the changes in soil metabolomics after the addition of two different carbon source amendments to the soil, and the differential mechanisms of soil metabolomics between them remain unclear. In this study, a long-term field experiment (initiated in 2019) was conducted to investigate the effects of biochar and green manure application on soil nutrients and soil functions driven by soil microbes. Compared to the pure fertilizer treatment, biochar increased soil total carbon by 14.54% to 27.04% and soil available potassium by 4.67% to 27.46%. Ryegrass significantly increased soil available phosphorus and organic matter. Under different fertilization regimes, the ecological niches of soil microbes changed significantly. Network analysis revealed that long-term ryegrass returning reduced the complexity of soil microbial networks. Ryegrass and biochar increased dispersal limitation in fungal assemblages (reaching 93.33% and 86.67%, respectively), with biochar particularly enhancing variable selection in bacterial assemblages (accounting for 53.33%). Variation partitioning analysis based on redundancy analysis indicated that humic substances had the highest explanatory power for microbial community variation, with humic substances explaining 38.49% of bacteria and 52.19% of fungi variation. The ryegrass treatment mainly changed the abundance of carbohydrates (CH), amines (AM), c (AH), and lipids (LP), while the BC treatment mainly altered the abundance of organic acids (AC), amines (AM), and carbohydrates (CH). Meanwhile, both treatments significantly reduced the bisphenol A, one of the soil pollutants. Ryegrass incorporation significantly increased the abundance of genes related to soil C, N, P, and S cycling, especially genes involved in carbon decomposition, while biochar significantly enhanced the abundance of nitrogen fixation genes nifH and Hao in soil. Random forest model results indicated that carbohydrates, alcohols, aromatics (AR), and ester (ES) were the main categories of metabolites in soil influenced by differential microbes, and Finegoldia served as a common important metabolic driving species. In summary, this study reveals the processes of soil function, microbial community succession, and metabolism driven by ryegrass and biochar, providing important insights for optimizing soil management and improving soil quality. Highlights: Ryegrass green manure (RG) and biochar (BC) induced the simplification of microbial networks and an increase in fungi's random assembly processes. RG promoted denitrification and carbon degradation functional genes, while BC enhanced nitrogen fixation genes. RG accelerated soil energy flow by promoting M00307 and M00061. In RG-treated soil, the main metabolites were Carbohydrates, while in BC-treated soil, the main metabolites were Acids and Amines. Both treatments reduced soil pollutant bisphenol A. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Phosphorus-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) are vital in converting insoluble phosphorus into a soluble form that plants can readily absorb and utilize in soil. While previous studies have mainly focused on the extracellular secretion of microorganisms, few have explored the intricate intracellular metabolic processes involved in PSB-mediated phosphorus solubilization. Results: Here, we uncovered that Ca3(PO4)2 could serve as a source of insoluble phosphorus for the PSB, Pseudomonas sp. NK2. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) results indicated higher levels of organic acids released from insoluble phosphorus compared to a soluble phosphorus source (KH2PO4), with acetic acid released exclusively under insoluble phosphorus condition. Moreover, non-target metabolomics was employed to delve into the intracellular metabolic profile. It unveiled that insoluble phosphorus significantly enhanced the tricarboxylic acid cycle, glycolysis, glyoxylic acid metabolism, and other pathways, leading to the production of acetic acid, gluconic acid, oxalic acid, and citric acid for insoluble phosphorus solubilization. In our quest to identify suitable biochar carriers, we assessed seven types of biochar through the conjoint analysis of NBRIP medium culture and application to soil for 30 days, with cotton straw-immobilized NK2 emerging as the most potent phosphorus content provider. Lastly, NK2 after cotton straw immobilization demonstrated the ability to enhance biomass, plant height, and root development of Solanum lycopersicum L. cv. Micro Tom. Conclusions: Pseudomonas sp. NK2 with cotton straw biochar could enhance phosphorus availability and tomato growth. These findings bear significant implications for the practical application of phosphorus-solubilizing bacteria in agricultural production and the promotion of environmentally sustainable farming practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biochar, produced from the thermochemical conversion of biomass waste, has various applications owing to its broad utility and advantageous properties. This study employs a scientometric approach to comprehensively assess the advancements in biochar application from 2022 to 2023. Utilizing 13,357 bibliographic records sourced from the Web of Science Core Collection with the search term "biochar", the analysis focuses on authorship, national contributions, and keyword trends. Findings demonstrate a continual rise in annual publications since 2009, albeit with a moderated growth rate in 2023. China leads in publication outputs, followed by USA and India, with Hailong Wang emerging as a prominent figure in biochar research. Keyword co-occurrence analyses identify key research themes such as biochar's role in climate change mitigation, easing salinity and drought stress, immobilizing toxic metals, degrading organic pollutants, serving as additives in anaerobic digestion, and functioning as electrodes in microbial fuel cells. Among these, biochar's application for global climate change mitigation gains significant attention, while its utilization as electrodes in microbial fuel cells emerges as a promising research frontier, indicating the growing need for sustainable energy sources. The study also outlines critical research gaps and future priorities for enhancing biochar application. Overall, it highlights the diverse applicability of biochar and offers valuable insight into research progression and forthcoming directions in biochar studies. Highlights: Utilization of bibliometric review for keyword analysis. Examination of recent developments in biochar application. The emerging focus on biochar's effectiveness as electrodes in microbial fuel cells (MFCs). Suggested future research directions and priorities for sustainable biochar application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, the impact of varying proportions of cellulose/lignin in bamboo on the production of hydrothermal biochar was investigated. Different characterization techniques were applied to explore the structure of hydrothermal biochar derived from three different genotypes (215, 30-A, 52-B) of Dendrocalamus farinosus, and the adsorption behavior of uranium by these hydrothermal biochars was evaluated. It was found that a decrease in cellulose/lignin ratio (3.08, 2.68, and 2.58) positively influenced the specific surface area and pore volume of hydrothermal biochar. Consequently, the prepared hydrothermal biochars exhibited adsorption capacities for U(VI) ions at levels of 14.78 mg/g, 24.68 mg/g, and 26.02 mg/g respectively under these three ratios. The adsorption process by 52-B-220 well complied with the Freundlich isotherm, which indicated that the multi-layer adsorption occurred on the solid liquid interface, but single-layer adsorption was evident in those prepared from genotypes 30-A and 215. This study demonstrated that adjusting biomass feedstock composition as an effective strategy for enhance the quality of biochar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Chicken manure is known to produce strong odors during aerobic composting, which not only pollutes the surrounding environment but also leads to the loss of valuable nutrients like nitrogen and sulfur, thus reducing the quality of the fertilizer. Methods: In this study, we explored the use of biochar combined with MgO desulfurization waste residue (MDWR) as a novel composting additive. Our approach involved conducting composting tests, characterizing the compost samples, conducting pot experiments, and examining the impact of the additives on nitrogen retention, deodorization, and compost quality. Results: Our findings revealed that the addition of biochar and MDWR significantly reduced ammonia volatilization in chicken manure compost, demonstrating a reduction rate of up to 60.12%. Additionally, the emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from chicken manure compost treated with biochar and MDWR decreased by 44.63% compared to the control group. Conclusions: The composting product treated with both biochar and MDWR (CMB) exhibited a 67.7% increase in total nitrogen (TN) compared to the blank control group, surpassing the other treatment groups and showcasing the synergistic effect of these two additives on nitrogen retention. Moreover, the CMB treatment facilitated the formation of struvite crystals. Furthermore, our pot experiment results demonstrated that the CMB treatment enhanced vegetable yield and quality while reducing nitrate content. These findings highlight the significant impact of MDWR on nitrogen retention, deodorization, and compost quality enhancement, thereby indicating its promising application prospects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought poses a significant ecological threat that limits the production of crops worldwide. The objective of this study to examine the impact of soil applied biochar (BC) and peatmoss (PM) on the morpho-biochemical and quality traits of tobacco plants under drought conditions. In the present experiment work, a pot trial was conducted with two levels of drought severity (~ well-watered 75 ± 5% field capacity) and severe drought stress (~ 35 ± 5% field capacity), two levels of peatmoss (PM) @ 5% [PM+ (with peatmoss) and PM- (without peatmoss)] and three levels of rice straw biochar (BC0 = no biochar; BC1 = 150 mg kg− 1; and BC2 = 300 mg kg− 1 of soil) in tobacco plants. The results indicate that drought conditions significantly impacted the performance of tobacco plants. However, the combined approach of BC and PM significantly improved the growth, biomass, and total chlorophyll content (27.94%) and carotenoids (32.00%) of tobacco. This study further revealed that the drought conditions decreased the production of lipid peroxidation and proline accumulation. But the synergistic approach of BC and PM application increased soluble sugars (17.63 and 12.20%), soluble protein (31.16 and 15.88%), decreased the proline accumulation (13.92 and 9.03%), and MDA content (16.40 and 8.62%) under control and drought stressed conditions, respectively. Furthermore, the combined approach of BC and PM also improved the leaf potassium content (19.02%) by limiting the chloride ions (33.33%) under drought stressed conditions. Altogether, the balanced application of PM and BC has significant potential as an effective approach and sustainable method to increase the tolerance of tobacco plants subjected to drought conditions. This research uniquely highlights the combined potential of PM and BC as an eco-friendly strategy to enhance plant resilience under drought conditions, offering new insights into sustainable agricultural practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The usage of orange peel wastes for solid biofuel production can provide a sustainable solution for solid waste management while also reducing the negative effects of fossil fuels. The aim of this study is to compare the combustion properties of orange peel wastes and solid biofuels obtained from them. In this context, the combustion behaviour of orange peel wastes and hydrochar and biochar samples obtained as a result of their hydrothermal carbonization and pyrolysis were investigated by the thermogravimetric method in this study. In addition, the combustion kinetics of these fuels were determined using the Kissinger-Akahira-Sunosa (KAS) and Flynn–Wall–Ozawa (FWO) methods. As a result of the thermogravimetric analysis, it is seen that the combustion behavior of raw biomass and hydrochar are quite similar, but the combustion of biochar is different from them. The combustion of raw waste and its hydrochar took place in multiple steps, the combustion of biochar took place in a single step. While the average combustion activation energy values of orange peel, hydrochar and biochar were calculated by KAS method as 159.876, 208.561 and 77.656 kJ/mol, respectively; they were calculated by the FWO method as 161.717, 208.600 and 85.209 kJ/mol, respectively. According to these results, the production of biochar from orange peel wastes by pyrolysis and the use of the obtained biochars in combustion systems are more suitable in terms of energy efficiency. Future research of the combustion of solid biofuels from orange peel will be very important to determine their potential for use in combustion systems, either directly or as an additive, and to increase energy efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photocatalysis is considered a promising methodology for removing pesticides from wastewater, given its cost-effectiveness and environmental benignity. Pesticide toxicity and bioaccumulation have raised environmental issues, underlining the necessity for efficient removal techniques based on novel nanomaterials. Here, biochar (BC) supported α-FeOOH and β-FeOOH (BC@α-FeOOH, BC@β-FeOOH) nanocomposites were synthesized for the sequential photocatalytic degradation of Endosulfan (ES) and 4,4-DDD pesticides. Waste peels of citrus limetta converted into useful BC. Synthesized BC, BC@α-FeOOH, and BC@β-FeOOH nanocomposite characterized by microscopic and spectroscopic techniques. For the removal, sunlight-active BC@-FeOOH demonstrated exceptional efficacy in mineralizing pesticides at the ideal pollutant concentration (20 mgL−1). Maximum degradation achieved by biosynthesized BC@α-FeOOH (ES: 98%; 4,4-DDD: 92%) nanocomposite followed by BC@β-FeOOH (ES: 80%; DDD: 76%) supported their excellency attributed to the higher value of zeta potential (− 14.3 mV), enhanced surface area (40 m2g−1) and lower value (1.9 eV) of the band gap. The fast decline in pesticide concentration, followed by a gradual decrease, demonstrated first-order kinetics triggered by Langmuir adsorption. Scavenger analysis indicated the presence of O2, hydroxyl radicals, and holes responsible for pesticide degradation. Finally, hybrid BC@α-FeOOH and BC@β-FeOOH nanocomposites may be viable alternative catalysts for industrial applications due to their high surface activity, charge separation, stability, and reusability (n = 8). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study deals with the solid waste management in tea processing industries by thermochemical conversion of the raw or industrial tea waste (ITW) for bioenergy generation and value addition. The elemental carbon (C) in ITW was 43.35%. Moreover, ITW exhibited gross calorific value (GCV) of 43.35% and 19.48 MJ/kg, which was comparable to firewood species. ITW was subjected to pyrolysis and industrial tea waste biochar (ITWBC) and industrial tea waste bio-oil (ITWB) were obtained as the main products. The pyrolysis increased the elemental C content and GCV in ITWBC up to 80.01 wt% and 24.00 MJ kg−1, respectively. Besides, alkane, alcohol, phenol, nitro, and aromatic compounds were obtained during spectroscopic analysis of ITWBC. The fixed carbon (FC) content increased from 22.50 to 74% after the conversion of ITW to ITWBC. The H/C and O/C ratios (in weight) decreased after the thermochemical conversion of ITW to ITWBC and ITWB. ITWB is comprised of 66.21% of C; the major components were phenolic (84.6%). Moreover, aromatics, esters, ethers, ketones, alcohols, furans, and aliphatic components were also identified during spectroscopic analysis of the ITWB. The spectroscopic analyses suggest effective thermochemical conversion of ITW with the involvement of chemical processes such as polymerization, dehydration, decarboxylation, aromatization, intermolecular condensations, and rearrangements. The study highlights the possibility of waste management in tea industries via integrated biorefinery approach, besides further validating the potential of ITW for energy/fuel production and value-added product development under the realm of "Waste to Wealth" technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extra and intracellular enzymes help soil microbes to degrade soil organic matter and plant residues into smaller digestible molecules. The goal of this study was to investigate the reaction of urease, alkaline phosphatase, β-glucosidase, and aryl sulfatase to two levels of 0.5% and 1% biochar prepared at 200, 400, and 600°C and corn residues in two clayey and sandy soils. The experiment was conducted as a factorial in a completely randomized design with four replications. The results showed that the addition of amendments changed the biochemical properties of calcareous soils with different textures. Soil enzyme activity increased depending on the use level of biochar and soil texture, while the activity of most soil enzymes decreased with the increase in pyrolysis temperature. The highest increase for the activity of urease (314% in clay soil), alkaline phosphatase (693%) at a rate of 1% of corn residue, β-glucosidase (240% in clay soil) at a rate of 1% of biochar 200°C, and aryl sulfatase (152% in sandy soil) at a rate of 0.5% of biochar 200°C was obtained, while the lowest activity of urease (63% in sandy soil) at the rate of 1% of biochar 600°C, alkaline phosphatase (73%) and β-glucosidase (8% in sandy soil) at a rate of 0.5% of biochar 600°C, and aryl sulfatase (16%) at a rate of 0.5% of biochar 400°C was observed compared to the control. Therefore, to increase the biological and enzymatic activity of calcareous soils, biochars prepared at lower temperatures should be used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this research is to develop thermally reduced corn stover biochar and combined it with the satin weaved sisal-reinforced vinyl ester composites. This investigation focus on mechanical, wear, DMA, fatigue, and hydrophobic properties of this composite, characterized according to ASTM standards. Composites are made after silane surface treatment on reinforcements and fabricated by hand layup process. Results show that the composite with the 5.0 vol.% biochar had the highest values of mechanical properties, which were 134 MPa, 4372 MPa, and 4.74 J for tensile strength, flexural strength, and Izod impact, respectively. But further increased in biochar up to 5.0 vol.% shows the reduction in mechanical properties. On the other hand, the composite designation VS3 was discovered to have the maximum storage modulus and lowest loss factor with inclusion of 5.0 vol.% of biochar particles as well as it shows the better wear characteristics of about 0.28 coefficient of friction and 0.009mm3/Nm sp. wear rate. However, maximum fatigue life counts of about 28,813 were observed by addition of 3.0 vol.% of biochar. The composite material designated VS3 exhibits the highest recorded contact angle, which is around 71°, indicating that it is hydrophobic in nature. SEM fractography demonstrates better fiber-to-matrix adhesion as a result of surface treatment on reinforcing materials. Furthermore, such composites could be used in industrial and domestic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tanning industry is of major interest for generating water and soil pollution in developing countries. Tannery wastes usually contain hair mixed with inorganic substances, being hazardous and difficult for use, treatment, and valorization. Tanner hair waste is a profitable material to produce biomaterials as biochar for agriculture and environment management. This study explores the potential use of biochar as a bio-adsorbent for emerging compounds like drugs. A fixed-bed pyrolysis activated with KOH was developed to produce the biochar, the KOH activation process increased the surface area and removal yields of the biochar. The study conducted adsorption tests with the single and mixed drugs amoxicillin-AMOX, diclofenac-DFC, azithromycin-AZM, and erythromycin-ERY. All biochar tested reached drug removal rates higher than 80%: AZM with the highest removal rate (94%), AMOX (91%), and DFC (83%). The tannery activated biochar was effective in removing all tested drugs. All the models tested have shown that the adsorption isotherms fit a Langmuir isotherms model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A large amount of agricultural waste is produced annually in China, and these agricultural wastes include crop residues and the manure generated from poultry and livestock farming. But there is still a considerable portion of agricultural waste that is not recycled and disposed of or directly burned. Therefore, if these agricultural wastes can be reasonably utilized, it will generate significant socio-economic and environmental benefits. Soil salinization has become one of the main threats to soil health, and agricultural waste is considered an effective tool for improving saline alkali land due to its unique properties. Utilizing agricultural waste to improve saline alkali land has advantages such as wide material sources, low cost, and low environmental risks. This article reviews the effectiveness and potential physical, chemical, and biological mechanisms of agricultural waste in improving soil health in saline alkali soils. Agricultural waste is mainly used to improve saline alkali land through a direct return to the field, burial of salt barriers, pyrolysis and carbonization into biochar, and composting, which can play a positive role in physical, chemical, and biological aspects. Finally, the problems existing in the improvement of saline alkali land with agricultural waste were discussed, and future research directions and hotspots in this field were proposed. It is believed that the improvement of ecological service functions is the key to its sustainability. This article can provide a theoretical basis for the study of agricultural waste in the improvement of saline alkali land, and help to further explore the resource utilization pathways of agricultural waste in sustainable agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The decline in crop yields is attributed to uneven chemical fertilization practices and poor soil fertility. From a sustainability perspective, the application of beneficial microorganisms alongside a blend of inorganic and organic fertilizers significantly influences crop productivity and food security. Concerns within the scientific community arise from the haphazard and negligent use of fertilizers. Farming communities predominantly reliant on chemical fertilizers often overlook the application of organic alternatives, leading to a gradual decline in soil organic matter and native nutrient levels, ultimately resulting in decreased crop yields. In diverse cropping systems, the amalgamation of chemical, biological, and organic sources sustains soil health, replenishes nutrients, and optimizes crop yields. Plant residues enhance soil microbial activity, expedite nutrient cycling and availability, and aid in preserving soil health through carbon sequestration. Regular utilization of plant residues and other organic materials enriches soil organic matter content, enhancing soil health and productivity. Integrating organic and chemical fertilizers presents a potential avenue to enhance maize and soybean yields in maize-wheat cropping systems, subsequently benefiting wheat crop productivity and profitability. The efficacy of specific soil nutrients can be heightened by combining organic sources with various chemical fertilization techniques. Hence, incorporating phosphorus fertilization alongside phosphorus-mobilizing and solubilizing agents (such as Trichoderma & PSB), along with the integrated management of peach waste materials including residues, compost, and biochar, is imperative for promoting crop growth, increasing seed yields, and fostering environmental sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In spite of okra's importance to food security in developing countries, its production is limited by low soil nutrient and health status. A screenhouse study examined soil chemical properties, okra growth and yield under complementary application of biochar, organic and inorganic fertilizer in an Ultisol. The treatments comprised 5 kg soil each amended with 5 t biochar ha−1, 5 t poultry manure compost (SPM) ha−1, urea at 56 kg N ha−1, urea (28 kg N ha−1) + 5 t biochar ha−1, 5 t ha−1 (2:1, PM: biochar) (SPMB), urea (28 kg N ha−1) + 5 t ha−1 (2:1, PM: biochar) (SPMBF2). The treatments, replicated thrice, were arranged in a completely randomized design. There were two sets of plants terminated at 50% flowering (dry matter yield (DMY) and nutrient uptake) and at 10 wk post-planting for growth and yield determination. Results revealed that soil chemical properties, okra growth and yield increased responsively to the organic amendments. The SPM, followed by SPMB and SPMBF, enhanced soil pH (0.18–0.19 unit), total N (79–100%), organic carbon (75–100%), available P (55–58%) and exchangeable cations over the control and others (p < 0.05). These treatments also increased the plant's agronomic parameters: plant height (10–19%), number of leaves, leave area (21–31%), stem girth (33–51%), DMY (59–67%), and tissue Ca, Mg and K. The SPMBF2 – treated soil had the highest fruit yield (45 g pot−1). Conclusively, sole and complementary applications of biochar and compost improved soil chemical properties, and okra growth and yields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The drilling industry is one of the main sectors of the oil industry, and oil drilling is one of the most specialized industrial activities. Large-scale production of sugarcane bagasse in Khuzestan Province creates an environmental opportunity to utilize this agricultural byproduct in different sections as a valuable byproduct. This study aimed to investigate the ability of the raw form of bagasse and its transformed structure in heavy metal fixation in drilling mud and to investigate the efficiency of crude bagasse, processed bagasse, and biochar adsorbents in removing heavy metals from the drilling mud residues of Ahvaz oil field. Methods: Sampling of drilling mud waste from Mishan Geological Formation (MGF) and Aghajari Geological Formation (AGF) was done on a vibrating sieve. The treatments examined in this research include the contact time in six levels (30, 60, 90, 120, 150, and 180 min), amount of the adsorbent in three levels (0.1, 0.5, and 1 g), adsorbent type in three levels (crude bagasse, processed bagasse, and biochar), and the formation type in two levels (Aghajari and Mishan). After chemical digestion, the samples were placed in contact with crude bagasse, processed bagasse, and biochar according to the designed conditions. Then, the removal percentages of Ba, Ni, V, Cd, Fe, and Pb were calculated. Means were compared using Duncan's test at the 1% level. Results and Discussion: The results showed that the biochar adsorbent is the most efficient compared to other adsorbents. The maximum removal percentages of heavy metals Ba, Ni, V, Cd, Fe, and Pb by crude bagasse are 72.53%, 68.89%, 79.49%, 76.88%, 49.42%, and 85%, respectively. In addition, the results showed that the maximum removal percentages of heavy metals Ba, Ni, V, Cd, Fe, and Pb by crude bagasse are 81/72%, 83/89%, 86/67%, 83/44%, 64/41%, and 90.72%, respectively. The maximum efficiency of biochar for adsorbing heavy metals Ba, Ni, V, Cd, Fe, and Pb is 90.70%, 91.84%, 88.89%, 88.75%, 78.59%, and 97.75%, respectively. The maximum amount of heavy metals adsorbed by all adsorbents was 1 gr/L, and the adsorption efficiency increased by increasing the amount of the adsorbent from 0.2 to 1 gr/L. In examining the effect of contact time, the maximum removal percentage of heavy metals barium and cadmium was obtained in 120 min, nickel and lead in 90 min, and vanadium and iron in 60 min. After the above contact times, there was no increase in the maximum percentage of metal removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought poses a significant ecological threat that limits the production of crops worldwide. The objective of this study to examine the impact of soil applied biochar (BC) and peatmoss (PM) on the morpho-biochemical and quality traits of tobacco plants under drought conditions. In the present experiment work, a pot trial was conducted with two levels of drought severity (~ well-watered 75 ± 5% field capacity) and severe drought stress (~ 35 ± 5% field capacity), two levels of peatmoss (PM) @ 5% [PM+ (with peatmoss) and PM- (without peatmoss)] and three levels of rice straw biochar (BC0 = no biochar; BC1 = 150 mg kg− 1; and BC2 = 300 mg kg− 1 of soil) in tobacco plants. The results indicate that drought conditions significantly impacted the performance of tobacco plants. However, the combined approach of BC and PM significantly improved the growth, biomass, and total chlorophyll content (27.94%) and carotenoids (32.00%) of tobacco. This study further revealed that the drought conditions decreased the production of lipid peroxidation and proline accumulation. But the synergistic approach of BC and PM application increased soluble sugars (17.63 and 12.20%), soluble protein (31.16 and 15.88%), decreased the proline accumulation (13.92 and 9.03%), and MDA content (16.40 and 8.62%) under control and drought stressed conditions, respectively. Furthermore, the combined approach of BC and PM also improved the leaf potassium content (19.02%) by limiting the chloride ions (33.33%) under drought stressed conditions. Altogether, the balanced application of PM and BC has significant potential as an effective approach and sustainable method to increase the tolerance of tobacco plants subjected to drought conditions. This research uniquely highlights the combined potential of PM and BC as an eco-friendly strategy to enhance plant resilience under drought conditions, offering new insights into sustainable agricultural practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mercury is one of the most toxic pollutants that has drawn the attention of scientists. This study investigates the phytoremediation capabilities of Vigna radiata L. in conjunction with microbial biostimulators. The inoculated seeds were cultivated in soil under controlled greenhouse conditions. The concentration of Hg, biomass, and photosynthetic pigments was investigated under amendment factor including EDTA, bacterial, fungal (Mycorrhiza and Trichoderma), biochar, and combined levels, as well as the pollution factor with three levels of HgCl2 as two factorial experiments. Results showed that Plant Growth-Promoting Microorganisms (PGPMs) influenced mercury absorption and distribution in different plant organs. Aside from biochar, all stimulators increased the plant's Hg concentration. Although EDTA greatly increased mercury accumulation in plants, it reduced biomass. Fungal and bacterial treatments increased total mercury in the plant but decreased its concentration in the leaves. The combination of bacteria and fungi resulted in the highest mercury absorption, while the biochar in combination with PGPMs produced the greatest biomass. Analysis of mercury concentration in seeds indicated that V radiata effectively prevented its contamination in seeds. The results disclosed that microbial combinations of bacteria and fungi could increase the plant's potential to cope with heavy metal pollution. This improvement is due to the different roles of these two organisms, like nitrogen fixation by bacteria and phosphorus absorption by mycorrhiza fungi. Moreover, biochar as a soil amendment and microorganism carrier was noticed. Finally, considering the plant's inherent capacity to stabilize mercury in the roots, phytostabilization with the benefit of combined levels of biochar and microorganisms can be introduced as the best approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work involved the preparation of pristine and iron nanoparticle-loaded biochar from a water chestnut shell to remove diclofenac sodium (DCF) containing effluent of pharmaceutical origin. To create suitable forecasting equations for the modelling of the DCF adsorption onto the adsorbent, response surface methodology (RSM) was used. The parameters, e.g. pH, adsorbent mass, DCF concentration and contact time, were used for the modeling of adsorption. The RSM model predicts that for 98.0% DCF removal, the ideal conditions are pH 6, an adsorbent dose of 0.5 g L−1, and a contact time of 60 min with an initial adsorbate concentration of 25 mg L−1 at 303 K. The maximum capacity deduced from the Langmuir model was 75.9 mg g−1 for pristine water chestnut shell biochar (pWCBC) and 122.3 mg g−1 for magnetically modified nano-Fe2O3 biochar (mWCBC). Under equilibrium conditions, the Langmuir model was the best-suited model compared to the Temkin and Freundlich models. The adsorption data in this investigation efficiently fitted the pseudo-second-order model, emphasizing that chemisorption or ion exchange processes may be involved in the process. The WCBC demonstrated recyclability after 10 cycles of repeated adsorption and desorption of DCF. A combined coagulation adsorption process removed COD, NH3–N, NO3−, PO43−, and DCF by 92.50%, 86.41%, 77.57%, 84.54%, and 97.25%, respectively. This study therefore shows that coagulation followed by adsorption onto biochar can be a cost-effective substitute for conventional pharmaceutical wastewater treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work presents a reasonable strategy of optimizing the N : P molar ratio of municipal wastewater to simultaneously restore N‐NH4+ and P‐PO43− via struvite precipitation employing biochar modified with magnesium as the seeding material. The phosphate removal efficiency and ammonium removal efficiency could reach up to 71 % and 100 %, respectively. The remaining phosphate can be restored by other techniques for low phosphate concentration input, such as electrocoagulation. The XRD patterns indicate the appearance of struvite with high nutrient contents including Mg, N and P in the resulting precipitate, suggesting its potential agricultural application. The biochar from rice husk and rice straw modified with MgCl2 solution via a simple procedure could be used as a new seeding material in struvite precipitation to simultaneously restore phosphate and ammonium from wastewater. It has been found that modifying with MgCl2 concentration of 0.5 M and 1 M were enough to improve 14.7 % and 26.5 % of the phosphate removal efficiencies of rice straw‐based and rice husk‐based biochar, respectively. Along with the highly compatible of the post‐precipitated product with soil amendment, the magnesium modified biochars from rice husk and rice straw were highly suitable for enhancing the restoration of phosphate and ammonium via struvite precipitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biochar is a nature-based solution for sustainable agriculture but its potential adoption in some parts of sub-Saharan Africa is still minimal. In this study, we evaluated the agronomic potential of maize stover biochar in cowpea-maize sequential cropping in Uganda under field conditions. The treatments included; the common farmer practice of no inorganic fertilizer and no biochar (CTR), inorganic fertilizer (F), 10 t ha−1 biochar (B10), 40 t ha−1 biochar (B40), 10 t ha−1 biochar + inorganic Fertilizer (FB10), and 40 t ha−1 biochar + inorganic Fertilizer (FB40), arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The results showed that cowpea seed yield was not significantly affected by biochar and fertilizer application but the haulm yield was significantly improved only in FB40 treatment. Maize grain and stover yield was significantly improved only in the FB40 treatment but biochar showed a high potential to also improve yield even without inorganic fertilizer. The potential for biochar to improve maize yield either in the presence or absence of fertilizers could be attributed to the residual soil fertility from cowpeas. In both seasons, biochar significantly improved soil pH, EC, SOC, total N, available P, exchangeable K and Ca, irrespective of fertilizer application. However, exchangeable Mg did not significantly vary among the treatments. This study further revealed that in cowpea-maize rotation, optimum yield could also be possible with sole biochar application. Therefore, instead of burning the maize stovers after harvest, farmers should convert the residues into biochar and return it to the soil so as to achieve sustainable food systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phosphorus-modified biochar has been proven to enhance the precipitation and complexation of heavy metal ions from wastewater. However, the current modification methods require large amounts of exogenous P and have high energy consumption. Hence, this study proposes and analyzes a strategy integrating biochar production, phosphorus wastewater treatment, dephosphorization waste recovery, and heavy metal removal. "BC-Ca-P" was derived from Ca-modified biochar after phosphorus wastewater treatment. The adsorption of Pb(II) by BC-Ca-P followed the Langmuir isotherm and pseudo–second–order kinetic models. The maximum adsorption capability of 361.20 mg·g−1 at pH 5.0 for 2 h was markedly greater than that of external phosphorous-modified biochar. The adsorption mechanisms were dominated by chemical precipitation and complexation. Furthermore, density functional theory calculations indicated that oxygen-containing functional groups (P-O and C-O) contributed the most to the efficient adsorption of Pb(II) onto BC-Ca-P. To explore its practical feasibility, the adsorption performance of BC-Ca-P recovered from an actual environment was evaluated. The continuous-flow adsorption behavior was investigated and well-fitted utilizing the Thomas and Yoon–Nelson models. There was a negligible P leakage risk of BC-Ca-P during heavy metal treatment. This study describes a novel and sustainable method to utilize dephosphorization waste for heavy metal removal. Article Highlights: Dephosphorization biochar waste was used to sustainably remove heavy metals from wastewater. Field-recovered dephosphorization biochar waste displayed high Pb adsorption capacity. Dephosphorization biochar for heavy metal removal is an eco–friendly waste–reduction and resource–utilization method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low-cost and green preparation of efficient sorbents is critical to the removal of organic contaminants during water treatment. In this study, the co-pyrolysis of macroalgae and oyster shell was designed to synthesize nitrogen-doped porous biochars for sorption removal of atrazine from water. Oyster shell played a significant role in opening pores in macroalgae-derived biochars, resulting in the surface area of the macroalgae (Enteromorpha prolifera and Ulva lactuca) and oyster shell co-pyrolyzed carbonaceous as high as 1501.80 m2 g−1 and 1067.18 m2 g−1, the pore volume reached 1.04 cm3 g−1 and 0.93 cm3 g−1, and O/C decreased to 0.09 and 0.08, respectively. The sorption capacity of atrazine to nitrogen-doped porous biochars (the Enteromorpha prolifera, Ulva lactuca and oyster shell co-pyrolyzed carbonaceous) reached 312.06 mg g−1 and 340.52 mg g−1. Pore-filling, hydrogen bonding, π-π or p-π stacking and electrostatic interaction dominated the multilayer sorption process. Moreover, the nitrogen-doped porous biochars showed great performance in cyclic reusability, and the Enteromorpha prolifera, Ulva lactuca and oyster shell co-pyrolyzed carbonaceous sorption capacity still reached 246.13 mg g−1 and 255.97 mg g−1, respectively. Thus, this study suggested that it is feasible and efficient to remove organic contaminants with the nitrogen-doped porous biochars co-pyrolyzed from macroalgae and oyster shell, providing a potential green resource utilization of aquatic wastes for environmental remediation. Highlights: Nitrogen-doped porous biochars (NPBs) were derived from natural wastes. Oyster shell enhanced the micropore and mesopore structures of NPBs. Physical sorption dominated atrazine sorption onto the NPBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pyrolysis of animal manure at high temperature is necessary to effectively immobilize heavy metals, while the available phosphorus (P) level in biochar is relatively low, rendering it unsuitable for use as fertilizer. In this study, the pretreatment of swine manure with different potassium (K) sources (KOH, K2CO3, CH3COOK and C6H5K3O7) was conducted to produce a biochar with enhanced P availability and heavy metals immobility. The addition of all K compounds lowered the peak temperature of decomposition of cellulose in swine manure. The percentage of ammonium citrate and formic acid extractable P in biochar increased with K addition compared to undoped biochar, with CH3COOK and C6H5K3O7 showing greater effectiveness than KOH and K2CO3, however, water- extractable P did not exhibit significant changes. Additionally, the available and dissolved Si increased due to the doping of K, with KOH and K2CO3 having a stronger effect than CH3COOK and C6H5K3O7. X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis revealed that K addition led to the formation of soluble CaKPO4 and silicate. In addition, the incorporation of K promoted the transformation of labile copper (Cu) and znic (Zn) into the stable fraction while simultaneously reducing their environmental risk. Our study suggest that the co-pyrolysis of swine manure and organic K represents an effective and valuable method for producing biochar with optimized P availability and heavy metals immobility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biochar (BC) applications in soil has positive effects on plant performance, particularly for loose soil in agricultural context. However, how biochar types affect plant performance of non-crop species and soil–plant carbon relationships is not clear. We selected five different BC types and three plant species to investigate the responses of plant performance and the soil–plant carbon relationship to BC effects. The result demonstrated that peanut shell BC led to the death of both R. tomentosa and C. edithiae, due to a reduction in nutrient uptake caused by higher soil electricity conductivity (2001.7 and 976.3 µS cm−1). However, the carbon content of S. arboricola increased by 57% in peanut shell BC-amended soil, suggesting that S. arboricola has a higher tolerance for soil salinity. Wood BC-amended soil led to better stomatal conductance (gs) and leaf area index (LAI) of both R. tomentosa and C. edithiae due to the higher water retention in the soil (22.68% and 20.79%). This illustrated that a higher amount of water retention brought by wood BC with a great amount of pore volume might be the limited factor for plant growth. The relationship between gs and LAI suggested that gs would not increase when LAI reached beyond 3. Moreover, wood and peanut shell BC caused a negative relationship between soil organic carbon and plant carbon content, suggesting that plants consume more carbon from the soil to store it in the plant. Overall, wood BC is recommended for plant growth of R. tomentosa and C. edithiae, and peanut shell BC is suggested for S. arboricola carbon storage. Highlights: Peanut shell biochar enhanced soil salinity which causes the death of R. tomentosa and C. edithiae, while wood biochar is suitable for these plant species. Wood and peanut shell biochar caused a negative relationship between soil organic carbon and plant carbon content. The stomatal conductance will not increase when the leaf area reaches the limiting value 3. An empirical function is developed to correlate plant carbon content and leaf area index under different biochar applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies are being conducted to develop strategies to reduce the adverse effects of salinity stress. In the present study, it was aimed to determine the interactive effects of salinity stress with biochar on plant growth-the physiological and biochemical attributes of forage peas (Pisum sativum ssp. arvense L.). Salt applications were carried out with irrigation water at concentrations of 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 mM NaCl. The experiment was conducted using a randomized complete block design with three applications [control: 0 (B0), 2.5% biochar (B1), and 5% biochar (B2)], five salt doses [0 (S0), 25 (S1), 50 (S2), 75 (S3), and 100 (S4) mM NaCl], and three replications, arranged in a 3 × 5 factorial arrangement. In the salt-stressed environment, the highest plant height (18.75 cm) and stem diameter (1.71 mm) in forage pea seedlings were obtained with the application of B1. The root fresh (0.59 g/plant) and dry weight (0.36 g/plant) were determined to be the highest in the B1 application, both in non-saline and saline environments. A decrease in plant chlorophyll content in forage pea plants was observed parallel to the increasing salt levels. Specifically, lower H2O2, MDA, and proline content were determined at all salt levels with biochar applications, while in the B0 application these values were recorded at the highest levels. Furthermore, in the study, it was observed that the CAT, POD, and SOD enzyme activities were at their lowest levels at all salt levels with the biochar application, while in the B0 application, these values were determined to be at the highest levels. There was a significant decrease in plant mineral content, excluding Cl and Na, parallel to the increasing salt levels. The findings of the study indicate that biochar amendment can enhance forage peas' growth by modulating the plant physiology and biochemistry under salt stress. Considering the plant growth parameters, no significant difference was detected between 2.5% and 5% biochar application. Therefore, application of 2.5 biochar may be recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water pollution deteriorates ecosystems and has a great threaten to the environment. The environmental benefits of wastewater treatment are extremely important to minimize pollutants. Here, the biochar purchased from the related industry was used to treat the wastewater which contained high concentration of vanadium (V). The concentration of vanadium was measured by the IC-OES and the results showed that 96.1% vanadium (V) was reduced at selected reaction conditions: the mass ratio of biochar to vanadium of 5.4, reaction temperature of 90 °C, reaction time at 60 min and concentration of H2SO4 of 10 g/L, respectively. Response surface methodology confirmed that all the experimental parameters had positive effect on the reduction of vanadium (V), which could improve the reduction efficiency of vanadium (V) as increased. The influence of each parameter on the reduction process followed the order: A (Concentration of H2SO4) > C (mass ratio of biochar to vanadium) > B (mass ratio of biochar to vanadium). Especially, the mass ratio of biochar to vanadium and concentration of H2SO4 had the greatest influence on the reduction process. This paper provides a versatile strategy for the treatment of wastewater containing vanadium (V) and shows a bright tomorrow for wastewater treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Portable X-ray Fluorescence probe (pXRF) is a tool used to measure many elements quickly and efficiently in soil with minimal sample preparation. Although this sensing technique has been widely used to determine total elemental concentrations, it has not been calibrated for plant-available nutrient predictions. We evaluated the potential of using pXRF for fast plant-available nutrient quantification. Two experiments were conducted in soils treated with two types of biochars to obtain a practical range of soil pH (5.5 − 8.0) and organic carbon (2.0 − 5.5%). Biochars applied were derived from switchgrass (SGB) and poultry litter (PLB). The first experiment received biochars at application rates up to 8% (w/w) and had no plants. The second experiment had up to 4% of SGB or PLB planted with ryegrass (Lolium perenne). Linear regression (LR), polynomial regression (PolR), power regression (PowR), and stepwise multiple linear regression (SMLR) were the models tested. Regardless of the extraction method, phosphorus (P) showed a strong relationship between pXRF and several laboratory extraction methods; however, K prediction via pXRF was sensitive to the plant factor. The optimum soil available-P corresponding to the maximum P uptake in plant tissues can be assessed with pXRF. The LR was inconsistent for calcium (Ca), sulfur (S), and copper (Cu) and non-significant for magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe), and zinc (Zn). Our results showed that pXRF is applicable to estimate P availability in soils receiving organic amendments. More evaluations are needed with diverse soil types to confirm the findings before using pXRF for fertilizer recommendation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Growing concerns regarding the presence of pharmaceuticals in wastewater necessitate their removal. Membrane filtration offers a promising approach. This study explores the development of biochar incorporated mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) for ciprofloxacin removal from water. Biochar, derived from the pyrolysis of agricultural waste, was blended with polyether sulfone (PES) and polyvinylpyrrolidone in varying ratios. The resulting MMMs exhibited progressively improved properties with increasing biochar content. Notably, membrane M11, comprising equal parts PES and biochar, displayed the highest porosity, lowest surface roughness (12.0), and lowest contact angle (31.05°), indicating enhanced hydrophilicity (increased by 58.19% compared to the biochar-free membrane). M11 effectively removed ciprofloxacin along with three additional antibiotics from different classes. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses corroborated the removal of ciprofloxacin. Furthermore, M11 demonstrated excellent regenerability, retaining over 57% removal efficiency after four cycles. These findings highlight the potential of M11 as a sustainable and cost-effective membrane for pharmaceutical removal from wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change-induced drought stress decreases crop productivity, but the application of β-sitosterol (BS) and biochar (BC) boosts crop growth and yield. A pot experiment was conducted to examine the effects of the alone and combined application of BS and BC on the growth and yield of Phaseolus vulgaris under drought stress. The synergistic application of BS and BC increased plant height (46.9 cm), shoot dry weight (6.9 g/pot), and root dry weight (2.5 g/pot) of P. vulgaris plants under drought stress. The trend of applied treatments for photosynthetic rate remained as BC (15%) < BS (28%) < BC + BS (32%), compared to drought-stressed control. Similarly, the trend of applied treatments for water use efficiency was BS < BC < BC + BS, compared to drought stress control. The levels of malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide were reduced by the combined application of BS and BC under drought stress, measuring at 22.8 and 66.4 μmol/g fresh weight, respectively. The combined use of BS and BC significantly alleviated drought stress more than when applied individually. Thus, employing BS and BC together as key agents in drought-stressed common bean plants could promote resilience, fostering growth amid ongoing climate change. Co-applying β-sitosterol and biochar improved drought resilience in Phaseolus vulgaris. Nutrient uptake and biochemical metrics increased in P. vulgaris with the combined effect of β-sitosterol and biochar. This approach enhances growth parameters, suggesting resilience to climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Inappropriate fertilizer application for rice crop resulted in the yield and soil fertility issues, then biochar and bioorganic utilization considered as the best solution for this situation. This study aimed to assess the combination of biochar and BOFs on growth and yield of lowland rice. The experiments were conducted at the field in Thua Thien Hue province, Central Vietnam in two crop seasons from 2023-2024. The completely randomized block experimental design involved three replications with five treatment combinations i.e., 100% NPK (control); 80% NPK + 5 t/ha BOF + 2 t/ha biochar; 80% CMOF + 5 t/ha BF + 2 t/ha biochar + 400 kg/ha lime; 70% CMOF + 5 t/ha BOF + 3 t/ha biochar + 400 kg/ha lime; 60% CMOF + 10 t/ha BOF + 3 t/ha biochar + 400 kg/ha lime. The effect of these treatments was analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and least significant difference (LSD) with a 95% confidence level (α=0.05). We found that the optimal combination is 80% NPK + 5 t/ha BOF + 2 t/ha biochar on rice plant height (98.67 cm), dry matter (12.43 g/plant) and economic yields (6.95 t/ha). The combination is capable of increasing the rice productivity according to rice performance and yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The small particle size of nanoplastics allows them to migrate through soil and make them highly bioavailable, posing a potential threat to groundwater. Measures are urgently needed to reduce the migration of nanoplastics in soil. However, there is limited research available on this topic. In this study, two types of iron-modified biochar (magnetic corncob biochar (MCCBC) and magnetic walnut shell biochar (MWSBC)) were selected and their effects on the transport of polyvinyl chloride nanoplastics (PVC-NPs) in natural sandy soil columns under different ionic types and strengths were investigated. The results show that the transport of PVC-NPs in single sandy soil columns was rapid and efficient, with the estimated breakthrough rate of 85.10%. However, the presence of MCCBC and MWSBC (0.5%, w/w) significantly inhibited the transport of PVC-NPs in sandy soil columns (p < 0.05), and MCCBC had a stronger inhibitory effect on the transport of PVC-NPs than MWSBC. This can be attributed to the fact that the adsorption of PVC-NPs on adsorbents followed the order as: MCCBC > MWSBC > sandy soil. The retention of PVC-NPs by MCCBC and MWSBC is determined by ionic type and ionic strength. The presence of coexisting ions enhanced the inhibitory effect of iron-modified biochar on the transport of PVC-NPs, with the following order: Ca2+ > SO2- 4 > Cl− > NO- 3. The inhibitory effect of MCCBC and MWSBC on the transport of PVC-NPs in soil columns increased with increasing ionic strengths. Furthermore, MCCBC and MWSBC inhibited the migration of PVC-NPs in a rainwater-soil system. The mechanisms by which MCCBC and MWSBC affect the transport of PVC-NPs in soil columns were considered to enhancing adsorption and decreasing soil pore volume. The results provide new insights into the management of soil nanoplastic pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The disposal and treatment of antibiotic residues is a recognized challenge due to the huge production, high moisture content, high processing costs, and residual antibiotics, which caused environmental pollution. Antibiotic residues contained valuable components and could be recycled. Using a one-step controllable pyrolysis technique in a tubular furnace, biochar (OSOBs) was produced without the preliminary carbonization step, which was innovative and time- and cost-saving compared to traditional methods. The main aim of this study was to explore the adsorption and removal efficiency of tetracycline (TC) in water using porous biochar prepared from oxytetracycline fermentation residues in one step. A series of characterizations were conducted on the prepared biochar materials, and the effects of biochar dosage, initial tetracycline concentration, reaction time, and reaction temperature on the adsorption capacity were studied. The experimental results showed that at 298 K, the maximum adsorption capacity of OSOB-3-700 calculated by the Langmuir model reached 1096.871 mg/g. The adsorption kinetics fitting results indicated that the adsorption of tetracycline on biochar was more consistent with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model, which was a chemical adsorption. The adsorption isotherm fitting results showed that the Langmuir model better described the adsorption process of tetracycline on biochar, indicating that tetracycline was adsorbed in a monolayer on specific homogeneous active sites through chemical adsorption, consistent with the kinetic conclusions. The adsorption process occurred on the surface of the biochar containing rich active sites, and the chemical actions such as electron exchange promoted the adsorption process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of using residues from cooking oil production to produce alternative biochar fuels along with optimizing the pyrolysis process. The work consisted of carrying out the pyrolysis process at varying temperatures and holding times at the final temperature, and then evaluating the energy potential of the materials studied. Taking into account aspects of environmental emissions, the content of selected oxides in the flue gases generated during the combustion of cakes and the biochar obtained from them was evaluated. Plant biomass derived from a variety of oilseeds, i.e., fennel flower (Nigella sativa L.), rapeseed (Brassica napus L. var. Napus), flax (Linum usitatissimum L.), evening primrose (Oenothera biennis L.), milk thistle (Silybum marianum L. Gaertn.) and hemp (Cannabis sativa L.), was used to produce biochar. The experimental data have shown that the obtained biochar can have a calorific value of nearly 27 MJ kg−1. The use of pyrolysis allowed for a maximum increase in the calorific value of nearly 41% compared to non-thermally processed cakes and a several-fold decrease in carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide emissions. According to these results, it can be concluded that the pyrolysis process can be an attractive method for using residues from the production of various cooking oils to produce alternative biofuels, developing the potential of the circular economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed at converting meat industry waste, particularly waste bones and chicken feathers, into biochar to recycle valuable nutrients present in it, which ultimately become part of the municipal waste. The bone biochar (BB) and feathers biochar (FB) were prepared at 550 °C, and their potential was evaluated as an organic amendment for the growth of sunflower. The ash content (AC) and fixed carbon (FC) improved significantly in prepared biochars as compared to raw feedstock. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analyses signaled the occurrence of various functional groups viz. amide group and hydroxyapatite, porosity, and multiple nutrients. Application of BB and FB in potted soil alone as well as in composites (1:1, 1:2, 2:1) at 1%, 3%, and 5% (w/w) and synthetic fertilizer significantly increased soil pH, electrical conductivity (ECe), organic matter (OM) and water holding capacity (WHC), while reducing the bulk density (BD). The growth of plants grown in soil treated with a 2:1 composite of feathers and bone biochar at 5% application rate showed significantly greater differences in plant height, total chlorophyll content, and plant dry weight than the control but was comparable to growth with chemical fertilizer, rendering it a potential alternative to chemical-based synthetic fertilizer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing demand for mineral resources has generated mine tailings with heavy metals (HM) that negatively impact human and ecosystem health. Therefore, it is necessary to implement strategies that promote the immobilization or elimination of HM, like phytoremediation. However, the toxic effect of metals may affect plant establishment, growth, and fitness, reducing phytoremediation efficiency. Therefore, adding organic amendments to mine tailings, such as biochar, can favor the establishment of plants, reducing the bioavailability of HM and its subsequent incorporation into the food chain. Here, we evaluated HM bioaccumulation, biomass, morphological characters, chlorophyll content, and genotoxic damage in the herbaceous Crotalaria pumila to assess its potential for phytostabilization of HM in mine tailings. The study was carried out for 100 days on plants developed under greenhouse conditions under two treatments (tailing substrate and 75% tailing/25% coconut fiber biochar substrate); every 25 days, 12 plants were selected per treatment. C. pumila registered the following bioaccumulation patterns: Pb > Zn > Cu > Cd in root and in leaf tissues. Furthermore, the results showed that individuals that grew on mine tailing substrate bioaccumulated many times more metals (Zn: 2.1, Cu: 1.8, Cd: 5.0, Pb: 3.0) and showed higher genetic damage levels (1.5 times higher) compared to individuals grown on mine tailing substrate with biochar. In contrast, individuals grown on mine tailing substrate with biochar documented higher chlorophyll a and b content (1.1 times more, for both), as well as higher biomass (1.5 times more). Therefore, adding coconut fiber biochar to mine tailing has a positive effect on the establishment and development of C. pumila individuals with the potential to phytoextract and phytostabilize HM from polluted soils. Our results suggest that the binomial hyperaccumulator plant in combination with this particular biochar is an excellent system to phytostabilize soils contaminated with HM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biomass pyrolysis by-products, such as biochar (BC) and wood vinegar (WV), are widely used as soil conditioners and efficiency enhancers in agriculture. A pot experiment was conducted to examine the effects of WV, both alone and in combination with BC, on soil properties in mildly saline soil and on cotton stress tolerance. The results demonstrated that BC and WV application, either individually or together, increased soil nutrient content. The combined application was more effective than the individual applications, resulting in a 5.18–20.12% increase in organic matter, a 2.65–15.04% increase in hydrolysable nitrogen, a 2.23–58.05% increase in effective phosphorus, and a 2.71–29.38% increase in quick-acting potassium. Additionally, the combined application of WV and BC led to greater improvements in cotton plant height, net photosynthetic rate (Pn), leaf nitrate reductase (NR), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) activities compared to the application of BC or WV alone. The enhancements in this study varied across different parameters. Plant height showed an increase of 14.32–21.90%. Net photosynthetic rate improved by 13.56–17.60%. Leaf nitrate reductase increased by 5.47–37.79%. Superoxide dismutase and catalase showed improvements of 5.82–64.95% and 10.36–71.40%, respectively (p < 0.05). Moreover, the combined treatment outperformed the individual applications of WV and BC, resulting in a significant decrease in MDA levels by 2.47–51.72% over the experimental period. This combined treatment ultimately enhanced cotton stress tolerance. Using the entropy weight method to analyze the results, it was concluded that the combined application of WV and BC could enhance soil properties in mildly saline soils, increase cotton resistance, and hold significant potential for widespread application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on soil biochar fertilization has mainly been conducted on cereal crops, and information on its potential for radish production remains inconsistent. Therefore, a pot experiment was conducted to examine the short-term effects of rice husk biochar on radish growth and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). An investigation was conducted with two application rates of biochar alone, (10 t ha−1 (B10) and 25 t ha−1 (B25), and biochar + chicken manure application with and without NPK fertilizer. The results indicated that the application of biochar 25 t ha−1 + chicken manure (B25:CHM) and the combination of biochar 25 t ha−1 + chicken manure + NPK fertilizer (B25:CHM:NPK) significantly increased root yield by improving NUE, fertilizer recovery efficiency (REN), agronomic efficiency (AE), nitrogen harvest index (NHI), and retaining soil NH4+-N. Although biochar application alone did not significantly influence radish growth on a short-term basis, B10 and B25 increased root yields by 10% and 20%, respectively, compared with the control. Notably, the role of biochar application when combined with organic and inorganic fertilizers was to retain fertilizer N and promote N uptake efficiency by radishes, as higher rates of biochar resulted in higher NUE. Our results suggest that B25:CHM is a suitable combination for organic farming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using rapeseed straw as a raw material and potassium bicarbonate (KHCO3) and urea (CO(NH2)2) as modification reagents, the pyrolysis raw materials were mixed in a certain proportion, and the unmodified biochar GBC800, KHCO3-modified biochar KGBC800, and (KHCO3)/(CO(NH2)2) co-modified biochar N-KGBC800 were, respectively, prepared using the one-pot method at 800 °C. The physicochemical properties, such as surface morphology, pore characteristics, functional group distribution, and elemental composition of the three biochars, were characterized, and the adsorption performance and mechanism of the typical antibiotic tetracycline (TC) in water were studied. The results showed that the surface of GBC800 was smooth and dense, with no obvious pore structure, and both the specific surface area and total pore volume were small; the surface of KGBC800 showed an obvious coral-like three-dimensional carbon skeleton, the number of micropores and the specific surface area were significantly improved, and the degree of carbonization and aromatization was enhanced; N-KGBC800 had a coral-like three-dimensional carbon skeleton similar to KGBC800, and there were also many clustered carbon groups. The carbon layer changed significantly with interlayer gaps, presenting a multi-level porous structure. After N doping, the content of N increased, and new nitrogen-containing functional groups were formed. When the initial TC concentration was 100 mg/L, pH ≈ 3.4, the temperature was 25 °C, and the dosage of the three biochars was 0.15 g/L, the adsorption equilibrium was reached before 720 min. The adsorption capacities of GBC800, KGBC800, and N-KGBC800 for TC were 16.97 mg/g, 294.86 mg/g, and 604.71 mg/g, respectively. Fitting the kinetic model to the experimental data, the adsorption of TC by the three biochars was more in line with the pseudo-second-order adsorption kinetic model, and the adsorption isotherm was more in line with the Langmuir model. This adsorption process was a spontaneous endothermic reaction, mainly chemical adsorption, specifically involving multiple adsorption mechanisms such as pore filling, electrostatic attraction, hydrogen bonds, n−π interaction, Lewis acid–base interaction, π−π stacking, or cation −π interaction between the aromatic ring structure of the carbon itself and TC. A biochar-adsorption column was built to investigate the dynamic adsorption process of tetracycline using the three biochars against the background of laboratory pure water and salt water. The adsorption results show that the Thomas model and the Yoon–Nelson model both provide better predictions for dynamic adsorption processes. The modified biochars KGBC800 and N-KGBC800 can be used as preferred materials for the efficient adsorption of TC in water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Olive mill waste (olive pomace, OP, and olive stone, OS) was used in this work to produce adsorbents for the removal of five phenolic acids typically found in olive mill wastewater. OP and OS were subjected to different treatments (combined or not) that were chemically modified (NaOH) or physically modified by two different methods, incipient wetness impregnation (IWI) and hydrothermal deposition (HD), and even biochar production obtaining a total of 16 materials. The materials were characterized by different analytical techniques such as N2 absorption, scanning electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, and pH zero-potential charge. The mixture of five phenolic acids was used to evaluate in batch conditions the adsorption capacity of the prepared materials. OS chemically modified with IWI (OSM-IWI) and OS biochar with HD (BOS-HD) presented better adsorption capacity at 157.1 and 163.6 mg/g of phenolic acids, respectively, from a total of 200 mg/g. For some materials, the surface area cannot be correlated with adsorption capacity, unlike pHzpc, where high values fit better adsorption rates. The infrared spectroscopy profile indicates the presence of O-H and N-H functional groups and, the last one, red-shifted in the IWI preparation compared to the HD one. In addition to this, the prepared material from olive mill waste can be suitably used for the mixture of phenolic compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To reduce the mercury content in flue gas from coal-fired power plants and to obtain high-performance, low-cost mercury adsorbents, a novel composite material was prepared by structural design through the in situ growth method. Functionalization treatments such as the modification of functional groups and multilayer loading of polymetallic were conducted. These materials include the MOF material UiO-66 and modified biochar doped with Fe/Ce polymetallic, both of which contain unsaturated metal centrals and oxygen-containing functional groups. On the basis of obtaining the effects of adsorption temperature and composite ratio on the Hg0 removal characteristics, coupling and synergistic mechanisms between the various types of active centers included were investigated by using a variety of characterization and analysis tools. The active adsorption sites and oxidation sites were identified during this process, and the constitutive relationship between the physicochemical properties and the performance of Hg0 removal was established. The temperature-programmed desorption technique, Grand Canonical Monte Carlo simulation, and adsorption kinetic model were employed to reveal the mechanism of Hg0 removal. The results showed that the UiO-66-Br@MBC composite adsorbent possessed an excellent Hg0 removal performance at adsorption temperatures ranging from 50 to 250 °C, and targeted construction of adsorption and oxidation sites while maintaining thermal stability. The Hg0 removal by the composites is the result of both adsorption and oxidation. The micropores and small pore mesopores in the samples provide physical adsorption sites. The modified biochar acts as a carrier to facilitate the full exposure of the central metal zirconium ions, the formation of more active sites, and the process of electron transfer. The doping modification of the Br element can enhance the overall redox ability of the sample, and the introduced Fe and Ce polymetallic ions can work in concert to promote the oxidation process of Hg0. The excellent regulation of the ratio between adsorption and oxidation sites on the surface of the composite material finally led to a significant boost in the samples' capacity to remove Hg0. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A small-scale (up to 5 kWe) biogas-solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) energy system is an envisioned system, which can be used to meet both electrical and thermal energy demand of off-grid settlements. SOFC systems are reported to be more efficient than alternatives like internal combustion engines (ICE). In addition to energy recovery, implementation of biogas-SOFC systems can enhance sanitation among these settlements. However, the capital investment costs and the operation and maintenance costs of a biogas-SOFC energy system are currently higher than the existing alternatives. From previous works, H2S removal by biochar was proposed as a potential local cost-effective alternative. This research demonstrates the techno-economic potential of locally produced biochars made from cow manure, jackfruit leaves, and jack fruit branches in rural Uganda for purifying the biogas prior to SOFC use. Results revealed that the use of biochar from cow manure and jack fruit leaves can reduce H2S to below the desired 1 ppm and substitute alternative biogas treatments like activated carbon. These experimental results were then translated to demonstrate how this biochar would improve the economic feasibility for the implementation of biogas-SOFC systems. It is likely that the operation and maintenance cost of a biogas-SOFC energy system can in the long run be reduced by over 80%. Also, the use of internal reforming as opposed to external reforming can greatly reduce the system capital cost by over 25% and hence further increase the chances of system economic feasibility. By applying the proposed cost reduction strategies coupled with subsidies such as tax reduction or exemption, the biogas-SOFC energy system could become economically competitive with the already existing technologies for off-grid electricity generation, like solar photovoltaic systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, biochars were produced from by-products of the herbal industry, specifically fennel seeds (Foeniculum vulgare), through direct activation by carbon dioxide at two different temperatures. The biochar samples were comprehensively analysed. Additionally, adsorption studies were conducted for methylene blue. The resulting adsorbents exhibited a specific surface area ranging from 2.29 to 14.60 m2/g. The resulting materials displayed a basic character on their surface. The constants for adsorption models were determined for each dye as well as thermodynamic parameters and the kinetics of the process. The sorption capacities of methylene blue for the samples exhibited a range of 22 to 43 mg/g. The adsorption kinetics of the dye on the biochar materials were found to follow a pseudo-second-order model, with the adsorption process best described by the Langmuir isotherm for the DA-800 sample and the Freundlich isotherm for the DA-750 sample. This indicates the development of a monolayer adsorbate on the biochar surfaces. The efficacy of the adsorption process in aqueous solutions of methylene blue was found to increase with rising temperature. Furthermore, based on thermodynamic studies, the adsorption process was found to be spontaneous and endothermic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the effect of biochar from oat hulls (BO) on the rheological properties of a PG 64-22 asphalt binder was evaluated using a full factorial design, which included the following factors: pyrolysis temperature (PT) (300 °C and 500 °C), BO particle size (<20 µm and <75 µm), and the amount of BO (2.5%, 5%, and 7.5%). First, the morphological and physicochemical properties of BO were analyzed by comparing it with graphite powder (CFG) and commercial activated carbon (CAC). The physicochemical properties of the modified asphalt binder were then evaluated using confocal laser microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM–EDX), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Its storage stability was also evaluated. Subsequently, the rutting parameter G*/sin(δ) and the Fraass breaking point were analyzed to select asphalt binders that extended their viscoelastic range. The asphalt binders selected were those with 2.5%, 5%, and 7.5% BO, produced at a PT of 300 °C with a particle size <20 µm (BO300S). Next, the rheological properties of the selected samples were evaluated by testing for rotational viscosity, rutting parameter G*/sin(δ), multiple stress creep recovery (MSCR), fatigue parameter G*·sin(δ), and creep stiffness by bending beam rheometry (BBR). The rheological aging index according to rutting parameter G*/sin(δ) (RAI) was also evaluated. These tests were conducted in different states of the asphalt binder: original, short-term aged, and long-term aged. According to the results, the application of BO300S significantly increased the resistance of the asphalt binder to rutting and rotational viscosity, proportional to the amount added to the asphalt binder. Moreover, low modifier percentages improved fatigue resistance, outperforming CFG and CAC. In addition, it performs well at low service temperatures, registering better resistance than the control asphalt binders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrogen is an essential nutrient for plant functioning, photosynthesis, and metabolic activities. In terrestrial settings, nitrogen is not always sufficiently available because its basic form (N2) must be fixed into other forms, such as nitrate and ammonium, to be usable by plants. Adding nitrogenous fertilizer to soils may provide a means of increasing forest productivity. Ammoniacal nitrogen (N-NH3), an effluent produced during gold extraction, requires mining companies to manage its long-distance and costly transportation offsite for disposal. Applying this nitrogenous effluent, in its treated form of ammonium sulfate (ammoniacal nitrogen from mine water was converted into ammonium sulfate locally), to regional forest stands could provide a cost-effective and more environmentally sound means of managing this waste product and enhance forest productivity. Here, we conducted greenhouse- and field-based experiments to evaluate ammonium sulfate fertilization on black spruce (Picea mariana) and jack pine (Pinus banksiana) seedling growth. We assigned five treatments, varying in terms of the fertilizer concentration and presence/absence of biochar, to seedlings in greenhouse trials. We also applied various concentrations of ammonium sulfate to an 8-year-old black spruce plantation in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Québec. We found that black spruce and jack pine seedlings experienced greater growth than the controls in terms of the stem diameter (32–44%), seedling height (21–49%), and biomass (86–154%). In the field experiment, we observed 37% greater volumetric growth in plots receiving medium-level fertilization than the control. Although nitrogen fertilization lowered the soil pH, essential nutrients increased to favor greater seedling growth. Thus, ammonium sulfate, derived from local mining effluent, appears to offer a suitable alternative for enriching nitrogen-limited boreal soils and increasing tree growth. This application could benefit both regional mining industries and forest management bodies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]