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Soil salinity is a major nutritional challenge with poor agriculture production characterized by high sodium (Na+) ions in the soil. Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) and biochar have received attention as a sustainable strategy to reduce biotic and abiotic stress. However, there is a lack of information regarding the incorporation of ZnO NPs with biochar to ameliorate the salinity stress (0, 50,100 mM). Therefore, the current study aimed to investigate the potentials of ZnO NPs application (priming and foliar) alone and with a combination of biochar on the growth and nutrient availability of spinach plants under salinity stress. Results demonstrated that salinity stress at a higher rate (100 mM) showed maximum growth retardation by inducing oxidative stress, resulted in reduced photosynthetic rate and nutrient availability. ZnO NPs (priming and foliar) alone enhanced growth, chlorophyll contents and gas exchange parameters by improving the antioxidant enzymes activity of spinach under salinity stress. While, a significant and more pronounced effect was observed at combined treatments of ZnO NPs with biochar amendment. More importantly, ZnO NPs foliar application with biochar significantly reduced the Na+ contents in root 57.69%, and leaves 61.27% of spinach as compared to the respective control. Furthermore, higher nutrient contents were also found at the combined treatment of ZnO NPs foliar application with biochar. Overall, ZnO NPs combined application with biochar proved to be an efficient and sustainable strategy to alleviate salinity stress and improve crop nutritional quality under salinity stress. We inferred that ZnO NPs foliar application with a combination of biochar is more effectual in improving crop nutritional status and salinity mitigation than priming treatments with a combination of biochar.

Waterpipe tobacco (WPT) smoking is a public health concern, particularly among youth and young adults. The global spread of WPTuse has surged because the introduction of pre-packaged flavored and sweetened WPT, which is widely marketed as a safer tobaccoalternative. Besides flavorants and sugars, WPT additives include humectants, which enhance the moisture and sweetness of WPT,act as solvents for flavors, and impart smoothness to the smoke, thus increasing appeal to users. In the United States, unlikecigarette tobacco flavoring (with the exception of menthol), there is no FDA product standard or policy in place prohibiting sales offlavored WPT. Research has shown that the numerous fruit, candy, and alcohol flavors added to WPT entice individuals toexperience those flavors, putting them at an increased risk of exposure to WPT smoke-related toxicants. Additionally, burningcharcoal briquettes—used as a heating source for WPT—contributes to the harmful health effects of WPT smoking. This reviewpresents existing evidence on the potential toxicity resulting from humectants, sugars, and flavorants in WPT, and from the charcoalused to heat WPT. The review discusses relevant studies of inhalation toxicity in animal models and of biomarkers of exposure inhumans. Current evidence suggests that more data are needed on toxicant emissions in WPT smoke to inform effective tobaccoregulation to mitigate the adverse impact of WPT use on human health.

BACKGROUND: In low- and middle-income countries countries, millions of deaths occur annually from household air pollution (HAP), pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB), and HIV-infection. However, it is unknown whether HAP influences PTB risk among people living with HIV-infection. METHODS: We conducted a case-control study among 1,277 HIV-infected adults in Bukavu, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (February 2018 - March 2019). Cases had current or recent (3h/day and ≥2 times/day and ≥5 days/week were more likely to have PTB (aOR 1·36; 95%CI 1·06-1·75) than those spending less time in the kitchen. Time-weighted average 24h personal CO exposure was related dose-dependently with the likelihood of having PTB, with aOR 4·64 (95%CI 1·1-20·7) for the highest quintile [12·3-76·2 ppm] compared to the lowest quintile [0·1-1·9 ppm]. CONCLUSION: Time spent cooking and personal CO exposure were independently associated with increased risk of PTB among people living with HIV. Considering the high burden of TB-HIV coinfection in the region, effective interventions are required to decrease HAP exposure caused by cooking with biomass among people living with HIV, especially women.

The aim of this study is to provide the drivers of long-term fire dynamics in various regions of Sub-Saharan Africa using a synthesis of updated sedimentary charcoal records, from 25,000 years ago to the present. We used the charcoal data currently available in the Global Paleofire Database, updated with the most recent published charcoal data, to reconstruct past biomass burning across the continent. We analyzed standardized charcoal data grouped by region (central Africa, eastern Africa, southern Africa, and Indian Ocean) and by vegetation type (forest, savanna, and shrubland). Within this framework, we found that quality data were lacking to reconstruct a robust trend in biomass burning before 5000 years at the continental scale. This large spatial scale was indeed masking regional peculiarities. Our results suggest that past changes in biomass burning were nuanced and cannot be simply attributed to either climate- or humans, and that they varied from each sub-regions and vegetation type history. In central Africa, biomass burning increased after the end of the African Humid Period and the first wave of Bantu-speaking people migration, whereas in East Africa and the Indian Ocean islands, it seems that human population growth was the main driver of fire activity. In South Africa, reduced rainfall seemed to offset fire activity due to population growth by reducing potentially flammable biomass. While the diversity of methodological techniques used to produce charcoal quantification made comparisons difficult, regional patterns still emerged from these data. This synthesis thus highlights the need to increase the number of sites with charcoal data and to harmonize charcoal extraction and quantification methods across Africa to improve regional to continental assessments of fire histories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aimed to investigate the in vitro effect of a charcoal-containing dentifrice with different toothbrush stiffness on enamel. Methods: Four main groups were applied: distilled water, conventional fluoridated toothpaste (Colgate® Total® 12 Clean Mint Toothpaste), charcoal toothpaste (Colgate® Total® Charcoal Toothpaste) and whitening toothpaste (Colgate Total® Advanced Whitening Toothpaste). Three subgroups for each toothpaste were further included according to the toothbrush bristles' stiffness (soft, medium, and hard). Enamel specimens were subjected to 1,250 and 2,500 cycles of brushing using toothbrushing simulation machine. The average surface roughness change (ΔRa) in nanometer (nm) was measured to estimate the changes following the brushing simulation model. Two-way ANOVA and Tukey tests analyzed the data. Results: The type of toothpaste and the bristles' stiffness were determinant factors in increasing the ΔRa value (P = < 0.05). Generally, charcoal and whitening toothpastes with medium and hard bristles yielded higher ΔRa than fluoridated toothpaste and smooth bristles. Following 1,250 cycles of brushing simulation, charcoal toothpaste did not increase the enamel roughness compared to the controls. However, in prolonged brushing via 2,500 cycles of brushing simulation, using bristles with soft stiffness revealed that charcoal toothpaste was associated with increased surface roughness (55.86 ± 41.18 nm), which was statistically significant (P = 0.024) compared to the negative control. Using bristles with medium stiffness showed that the whitening (68.23 ± 48.58 nm) and charcoal (73.62 ± 34.66 nm) toothpastes significantly (P = < 0.05) increased the enamel roughness compared to the conventional toothpaste (36.53 ± 22.56 nm). There was no significant difference among the groups when brushes with hard bristles were used, as all the groups revealed increased enamel roughness. Conclusion: The use of charcoal and whitening toothpastes increased enamel roughness, particularly with long-term use. The effect of bristle stiffness on enamel roughness was found to vary depending on the type of toothpaste used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To understand the roles of charcoal and ectomycorrhizal fungi (ECMF) on tree growth, which relates to the rehabilitation of forest ecosystems after forest fires, two experiments were set up in this study, the first was to determine the correct amount of charcoal for Japanese larch (Larix kaempferi Sarg.) seedling growth by applying oak charcoal to basic soil medium at ratios of 1:1, 1:2, 1:4 and 1:8 by volume. The second experiment investigated the combined effects of four types of charcoal: derived from oak wood, husks of buckwheat, rice and activated charcoal of larch wood, and two types of ECMF: Pt (Pisolithus tinctorius Pers.) and Ec (Pt + Rhizopogon spp. + Laccaria spp. + Scleroderma spp.) on the growth of Japanese larch seedlings. Our results show that growth was significantly stressed by large amounts charcoal applications. There were significant variations among the four types of charcoal on growth. We concluded that the addition of charcoal was the critical factor that influenced larch growth and ECMF formation. Rice charcoal and Ec stimulates the growth and nitrogen uptake of Japanese larch seedlings, thus the most suitable fungus and charcoal for practices is Ec-rice charcoal (1: 8 charcoal to basic soil). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon-based electrodes have recently been most widely used in P-MFC due to their desirable properties such as biocompatibility, chemical stability, affordable price, corrosion resistance, and ease of regeneration. In general, carbon-based electrodes, particularly graphite, are produced using a complex process based on petroleum derivatives at very high temperatures. This study aims to produce electrodes from bio-pitch and charcoal powder as an alternative to graphite electrodes. The carbons used to manufacture the electrodes were obtained by the carbonisation of Robinia pseudoacacia and Azadirachta indica wood. These carbons were pulverised, sieved to 50 µm, and used as the raw materials for electrode manufacturing. The binder used was bio-pitch derived from coconut shells as the raw materials. The density and coking value of the bio-pitch revealed its potential as a good alternative to coal-tar pitch for electrode manufacturing. The electrodes were made by mixing 66.50% of each carbon powder and 33.50% of bio-pitch. The resulting mixture was moulded into a cylindrical tube 8 mm in diameter and 80 mm in length. The raw electrodes obtained were subjected to heat treatment at 800 °C or 1000 °C in an inert medium. The electrical resistivity obtained by the four-point method showed that N1000 has an electrical resistivity at least five times lower than all the electrodes developed and two times higher than that of G. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to determine the compositional features of the samples and their surface roughness was characterised by atomic force microscopy (AFM). Charge transfer was determined by electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The FTIR of the electrodes showed that N1000 has a spectrum that is more similar to that of G compared to the others. The EIS showed the high ionic mobility of the ions and therefore that N1000 has a higher charge transfer compared to G and the others. AFM analysis revealed that N1000 had the highest surface roughness in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding past fire regimes requires reliable proxy data that record fire conditions and preserve them over time. The objective of this study was to determine if the oxygen isotope composition of charred bark samples (pyrogenic organic matter) could be used as proxy data to differentiate wildfires based on burn intensity. We collected charred and uncharred bark samples from three fire sites in northern Ontario, Canada that represented a gradient of fire intensity as depicted by Fire Weather Index (FWI) data. We hypothesized that the mean Δ18Obark-char (the difference between δ18O of uncharred bark and a charred sample) would be greater for fires with higher intensities. Analysis of variance of Δ18Obark-char indicated a significant effect of fire event (F = 73.6, p < 0.001), which explained 57.0% of the variance. A prescribed surface fire treatment (mean FWI = 9.5) had significantly lower Δ18Obark-char than two natural crown fires (FWI = 21 and 27). These results demonstrate that Δ18Obark-char differentiated moderate from high intensity fires in a similar manner to the FWI data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stable isotope analysis of black powder (BP) is of great significance for its comparison and source inference. Previous studies have verified the feasibility of distinguishing different BP samples through stable isotopes. However, the impact of raw materials and synthesis processes on the stable isotopes of BP remains unclear. On the one hand, the raw materials of BP are widely sourced, and whether stable isotopes can distinguish different source materials remains to be studied. On the other hand, the synthesis of BP involves the physical mixing of raw materials, and whether this process leads to isotope fractionation also needs further investigation. To address these problems, stable isotope ratios of 27 charcoals, 15 potassium nitrates, 6 self‐made and 10 commercial BP samples were analyzed. The results showed that the stable isotope ratios can be utilized to distinguish charcoals and potassium nitrates from different manufacturers and batches. No significant differences in the nitrogen and oxygen stable isotope ratios between the self‐made BP and its raw materials were observed, indicating that the physical mixing process does not induce significant fractionation of stable isotopes. However, the carbon stable isotope ratios of charcoal increased (within 2SD) after being synthesized into BP. Due to the utilization of additives and variations in the synthesis process, the correlation between the stable isotope ratios of commercial BP and its raw materials was complex. The findings of this study provide a scientific reference for tracing the source of BP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a part of discussion about geographic distribution of the Levallois-leptolithic (Bohunician) technological entities and its paleoanthropological meaning, this paper presents two potential sites from Bohemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Escalations in wildfire activity are of significant global concern, particularly within vulnerable wetland ecosystems integral to natural carbon sequestration and climate change mitigation. Our understanding and management of future wildfire activity may be better contextualised through the study of historic and ancient fire records, independent of human influence. Methods of study include 'geothermometry' - approximating ancient fire intensity from temperature-dependent changes in the chemistry of fossil charcoal. Though well established in their relation to experimental charcoalification, these methods still fail to quantify the true intensity of ancient fires, as a measure of energy release. As a result, their applicability, and contributions to the characterisation of modern fire activity, remain uncertain. Here, we present a novel measure of wildfire energy release, as a proxy for true intensity, through the co-application of cone calorimetry and Raman spectroscopy of charcoal. By applying a range of wildfire heat fluxes to variable peatland fuel mixes, this research demonstrates the complexity in correlating fire behaviour and charcoal microstructure. Further statistical analyses suggest a correlation between spectroscopic results, measures of CO and CO2 release, and fire severity. This offers a principal measure of ancient wildfire intensity, consistent with modern practices in wildfire modelling, monitoring, and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In semi-arid northeastern Brazil, where water is scarce, rainforest refugia can be seen along the coastal relief, where the trade winds bring in humidity from the Atlantic Ocean, or further inland, at the Araripe plateau where water comes from aquifer resurgence. In order to reconstruct past changes in water resurgence and in their associated vegetation types, we analyzed pollen, charcoal, and trace elements from sediment cores collected in the permanent swamps created by the resurgences. Our high temporal resolution analyses show that the vegetation was more sparse and drier than today until 2700 cal yr BP. Between 2700 and 2000 cal yr BP, palm swamp and evergreen forest tree taxa started to expand, suggesting an increase in water resurgence. At 2000 cal yr BP, the moist forest with Mauritia expanded and fire activity changed from mixed to woody fuel particles. During the last 200 cal yr BP, a decrease in the palm tree Mauritia flexuosa, an expansion of Poaceae and an increase in macrocharcoal particles are attributed to an increase in anthropogenic activities in the Araripe Basin. The Late-Holocene climatic trend seen at Araripe mirrors that of eastern Brazil and has controlled the aquifer activity, including during the major droughts that affected the region. This is highly relevant for the application of public policies that rely on the aquifers of Araripe for the 21st century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fossil fuel subsidy removal may hinder access to clean fuels like LPG. Our analysis of urban Senegal shows that LPG use fell sharply after subsidies ended in 2009, despite later price drops. Households switched to charcoal, and the new availability of energy-efficient charcoal stoves made a return to LPG less appealing. This highlights how energy transitions among the poor are price sensitive, with implications for subsidy and carbon-tax policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of whitening toothpastes on the surface roughness and colour change of CAD-CAM materials. Materials and methods: A total of 96 samples (2 × 10 × 12 mm3) were prepared from Cerasmart (CS) and Celtra Duo blocks. Celtra Duo samples were divided into two groups. One group was fired with glaze paste (CDG) and the other was not treated (CD). All groups were then divided into 4 subgroups (n = 8). The groups were brushed with conventional (Colgate™ Max Fresh), silica (Opalescence™), charcoal (Curaprox™ Black in White) and blue covarine (Signal™ White Now) toothpastes for 30,000 brushing cycles. The initial and final surface roughness values were measured with contact profilometer and a dental spectrophotometer used for obtaining colour values. One sample from each brushed group was analyzed using a scanning electron microscope. Data was analyzed with Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests (p = 0.05). Results: The surface roughness of CS samples brushed with Opalescence™ and Curaprox™ was significantly higher than CD and CDG. Surface roughness change values of CS samples brushed with Curaprox™ were significantly higher than the CD and CDG. Curaprox™ brushed samples showed significant difference in colour change values for all materials. Conclusions: Brushing increases the surface roughness of CAD-CAM ceramic materials. The roughness of resin-based materials is higher than zirconia-reinforced lithium silicates. Silica-contained toothpastes may cause discoloration of nanoceramic and zirconia-reinforced glass ceramic restorations. Clinical relevance: It should be clinically considered that whitening toothpastes may cause roughness in ceramic materials and change the desired color. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article traces the fragments and afterlife of the colonial rail as a material object in Tanzania. The rail was a tool for exploitation and proper control of the colony. The rails changed the land. The land was shaped and reshaped to accommodate the rail and aid the colonial project. As the colonial project ended, it marked the start of the demise of the railways and its ultimate abandonment. However, as ruins, the rail has continued affecting people and the Tanzania landscapes in various ways. This article collects fragments and the effects of the rail, both visible and beyond the ruination of the rail itself.Este artigo traça os fragmentos e a vida após a morte da ferrovia colonial como um objeto material na Tanzânia. A ferrovia foi um instrumento de exploração e de controle real da colônia. As estradas de ferro mudaram a terra. A terra foi moldada e remodelada para acomodar as estradas de ferro e auxiliar o projeto colonial. O término do projeto colonial marcou o início do fim da ferrovia e seu abandono definitivo. No entanto, como ruína, a ferrovia continuou afetando as pessoas e as paisagens da Tanzânia de várias maneiras. Este artigo coleta os fragmentos e os efeitos das estradas de ferro, tanto visíveis quanto além da ruína da própria ferrovia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New approaches are needed to resolve persistent geographic gaps and biases in paleofire research. Most sedimentary paleofire research relies on lake and peat sediments. We present an unconventional sedimentary charcoal record preserved in a modern, post‐bomb bat guano deposit and compare its accumulation to historical fire data. We find strong correlations between charcoal accumulation rates (CHAR) and non‐winter prescribed burns. CHAR in bat guano is more strongly correlated with prescribed fire than wildfire or total area burned, likely due to bats seeking out areas burned by prescribed fire for better foraging opportunities and/or bats avoiding wildfire. We attribute the CHAR in guano being a better recorder of area burned during non‐winter months to winter bat hibernation. Our analyses show that charcoal preserved in bat guano is a reliable paleofire proxy system, which has important implications for the paleofire field and encourages future research using bat guano as a viable archive. Plain Language Summary: Charcoal preserved in sediments can be used to reconstruct fire history. The bulk of these studies focus on traditional sediments (e.g., lakes, peats). We try this out with bat guano, a very unconventional sediment system. By comparing charcoal preserved in guano with historical fire maps, we show that guano charcoal reliably reconstructs fire history. But, it is even better at reconstructing non‐winter fire (due to bat hibernation during the winter) and prescribed fire (due to bats avoiding wildfire and seeking out prescribed fire areas). Our work is an important first step to show that charcoal in bat guano is a reliable method. It also opens new doors for understanding fire history more broadly, due to the seasonal and behavioral uniqueness of bats. Key Points: Fire history is recorded by charcoal in bat guanoBat guano can differentiate human‐set fires from wildfiresBat behavior governs seasonal lens of guano as fire recorder [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: A splinter of charred wood was recovered from late Early Eocene volcanoclastic deposits underlying the lacustrine succession of the Messel-pit near Darmstadt (Hesse, Germany). Well-preserved anatomical details due to charring allow for an attribution of the splinter to the Oleaceae family. Within Oleaceae, the wood shows good agreement with the anatomical structure of recent members of the genera Olea , Chionanthus and Noronhia. However, due to the high variability of structural features within this group of genera, a reliable taxonomic placement is restricted to the monophyletic drupaceous subtribe Oleinae. The Splinter was cut loose from a tree of the local vegetation and charred by effects of the respective phreatomagmatic eruption, even under a low-fire regime. The specimen represents a rare example of a Pre-Quarternary wood that can be related directly to a radiometric age of 48.27–48.11 Ma (±0.22 Ma). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to its proximity to coastal South America and settlement during the early phase of insular Caribbean occupation, Curaçao's archaeological record offers potential evidence for early overwater exploration and regional interaction. Here, we report new accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) dates on charcoal from C-1426 at Saliña Sint Marie, an Archaic rockshelter site that extends Curaçao's occupation back to 5735–5600 cal BP, some 290–850 years earlier than the established settlement chronology. This finding makes the C-1426 rockshelter Curaçao's earliest known archaeological site and among the oldest in the insular Caribbean. We describe the site and the archaeological context of dating and conclude by considering the implications of Curaçao's revised occupation chronology for initial Caribbean settlement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study outlines the development of a cost-effective, extended-release febuxostat (FEB) tablet using activated charcoal as an adsorbent to enhance drug release. FEB, a BCS Class II drug, presents formulation challenges due to low solubility and high lipophilicity. We evaluated eight formulations with varying FEB-to-charcoal ratios using FTIR and DSC for physical interactions and followed USP standards for overall assessment. The optimal 1:0.25 FEB-to-charcoal ratio demonstrated a consistent 12 h zero-order release pattern. In vivo studies indicated a significantly extended plasma profile compared to immediate-release tablets. The optimal tablets demonstrated acceptable hardness and disintegration times. This innovative approach enhances patient compliance, improves bioavailability, and reduces production costs, offering a promising solution for controlled FEB delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Waterpipe tobacco (WPT) smoking is a public health concern, particularly among youth and young adults. The global spread of WPT use has surged because the introduction of pre-packaged flavored and sweetened WPT, which is widely marketed as a safer tobacco alternative. Besides flavorants and sugars, WPT additives include humectants, which enhance the moisture and sweetness of WPT, act as solvents for flavors, and impart smoothness to the smoke, thus increasing appeal to users. In the United States, unlike cigarette tobacco flavoring (with the exception of menthol), there is no FDA product standard or policy in place prohibiting sales of flavored WPT. Research has shown that the numerous fruit, candy, and alcohol flavors added to WPT entice individuals to experience those flavors, putting them at an increased risk of exposure to WPT smoke-related toxicants. Additionally, burning charcoal briquettes—used as a heating source for WPT—contributes to the harmful health effects of WPT smoking. This review presents existing evidence on the potential toxicity resulting from humectants, sugars, and flavorants in WPT, and from the charcoal used to heat WPT. The review discusses relevant studies of inhalation toxicity in animal models and of biomarkers of exposure in humans. Current evidence suggests that more data are needed on toxicant emissions in WPT smoke to inform effective tobacco regulation to mitigate the adverse impact of WPT use on human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The excessive use of antibiotics to treat bacterial infections can lead to bacterial resistance, necessitating other antibacterial agents as alternatives. This research combined charcoal and activated charcoal with metal oxide, namely copper oxide (Cu2O), which has antibacterial properties against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, thus producing an antibacterial composite for water treatment processes. Furthermore, this study also examined the effect of different types of sugar as reducing agents on the produced Cu2O and identified the antibacterial activity of Cu2O and its composites. Synthesis of Cu2O through the Tollens-like reaction method using Cu(NO3)2 as a precursor, then adding NaOH, NH4OH, and sugar. The sugars were sucrose, white sugar, and brown sugar. The type of sugar used as a reducing agent affected the size and morphology of the Cu2O produced. Adding Cu2O to charcoal and activated charcoal increased antibacterial properties to charcoal and activated charcoal. Copper oxide, Cu2O/charcoal, and Cu2O/activated charcoal exhibited high antibacterial properties against Escherichia coli (Gram- negative), as of 5.69 ± 0.02 mm and 6.23 ± 0.03 mm, respectively, due to their thinner cell walls compared to Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive). The Cu2O synthesized using white sugar as the reducing agent showed the best antibacterial activity, with an 8.26 ± 0.19 mm inhibition zone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent global fire activity has highlighted the importance of understanding fire dynamics across time and space, with records of past fire (palaeofire) providing valuable insights to inform current and future management challenges. New records from the recent increase in palaeofire studies from Australia and surrounds have not been captured in any database for broader comparisons, and Australasia is poorly represented in current international databases used for global modelling of palaeofire trends. These problems are addressed by SahulCHAR, a new collection of sedimentary charcoal and black carbon records from Sahul (Australia, New Guinea, and offshore islands) and New Zealand. Data are stored in the OCTOPUS relational database platform, with a structure designed for compatibility with the existing Global Paleofire Database. Metadata are captured at site-level and observation-level, with observations including age determinations and charcoal or black carbon data. SahulCHAR Version 1 contains 687 records of charcoal or black carbon, including digitized data, unchanged and modified records from the Global Paleofire Database, and original author-submitted data. SahulCHAR is a much-needed update on past regional palaeofire compilations that will also provide greater representation of records from Sahul and New Zealand in future global syntheses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The conversion of biomass-coal mixtures into energy using thermal conversion systems offers a more environmentally sustainable alternative to conventional coal consumption. A reactor with an internal compartment is proposed to improve the pyrolysis performance of lignite coal and mixtures of lignite coal with peanut shells. The study investigates lignite coal with varying moisture contents and peanut shell proportions (0%, 10%, 25%, and 50%) at a temperature of 500°C, using a heating rate of 0.1°C/s. The results indicated that dry mixtures demonstrated higher overall productivity compared to wet mixtures, particularly in terms of charcoal production. The weight of charcoal increased by 4.83%, 4.71%, 4.02%, and 2.61% across the mixtures. The total conversion rates for dry mixtures were 24.59%, 29.27%, 34.36%, and 40.44%, while for wet mixtures, the conversion rates were 29.42%, 33.98%, 38.38%, and 43.05%, respectively. The results revealed that moisture content during pyrolysis significantly influenced the productivity of lignite and lignite-peanut shell mixtures. The conversion rates in dry mixtures were lower compared to those in wet mixtures. The novelty of this work lies in its pioneering investigation of the impact of moisture on the slow pyrolysis of Turkish lignite mixed with peanut shells. It offers novel insights into optimizing the thermal conversion process for these materials by uniquely examining the effects of moisture on productivity and conversion rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coconut shell charcoal is explored as filler for the synthesis of starch‐based superabsorbent composites, and the effect of two crosslinking agents, namely epichlorohydrin (EPI) and citric acid (CA), is evaluated. The study investigates how varying filler concentrations influence water absorption, retention, and swelling. The highest water absorption (1462% swelling) is observed with EPI‐crosslinked starch and 0.75 g of filler. The charcoal increases the porosity and free volume of the composites, enhancing water retention. However, excessive filler reduces absorption by increasing rigidity. Compared to epichlorohydrin, CA‐crosslinked composites show lower absorption, with an optimal CA concentration at a 1:1 starch‐to‐CA ratio, resulting in a swelling of 234%. The composites are analyzed using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and X‐ray Diffraction (XRD) techniques. Their application as water retention agents in plant growth demonstrates a positive impact on shoot height, supporting seed growth. Biodegradability tests reveal excellent performance in CA‐crosslinked samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coconut shell waste can generate environmental problems if left without treatment, as it contains lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose compounds, which pyrolyze to produce liquid smoke, charcoal, and tar. This study aims to prepare and characterize liquid smoke using several parameters, including the chemical content preserving tofu and the hedonic test of consumer preferences. The dried coconut shell (3000 g) was pyrolyzed at 300 °C for 5 h. Liquid smoke (grade 3) was purified by distillation (grade 2) and filtered with activated charcoal to produce grade 1 liquid smoke. The liquid smoke properties were characterized as yield, pH, phenol, and moisture, while the chemical components were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). For the commercial and coconut shell liquid smoke (grade 1) used in this study, the application was aimed at preserving the tofu for three days. Panelists observed the aroma, the texture, and the appearance compared to the control. Ten panelists performed the hedonic test of fried preserved tofu. The organoleptic aspects included taste, texture, aroma, and color. The liquid smoke obtained from coconut shell pyrolysis was red-brown, with a yield of 52.75%, pH 0.5 (grade 3), pH 1.7 (grade 2), and pH 2.3, with a total phenol of 2.479 (grade 1). The GC-MS results exhibited three essential chemical compounds, namely phenol, methoxy phenol, and hydroxyphenyl phosphonic acid, influencing the preservation. The liquid smoke solution extended the shelf life of tofu, especially at a concentration of 1.5 (% v/v), so the water content decreased. The average panelist responded “good” on the hedonic test on all of the tofu treatments compared to the control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant tissue culture is the best option in producing planting material for cultivation programmes of Gyrinops walla. Perfection of in vitro rooting protocol for this species is the most decisive step in micropropagation. In the present study the effect of physical state of substrate, different concentrations of sucrose, IBA and NAA in media containing activated charcoal on in vitro rooting was investigated. In experiment-1, 0.2% (w/v) activated charcoal was added in to the ½ MS medium fortified with 30 or 40 g/L sucrose and varying concentrations of IBA or NAA (0, 0.1, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mg/L). In experiment-2, filter paper-bridged liquid medium was used with 40 g/L sugar and varying concentrations of IBA or NAA (0, 0.1, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mg/L). The treatments were arranged in completely randomized design with three replicates. Percentage of rooted microshoots and number of roots per shoot were recorded. The ½ MS semi-solid medium with 0.2% activated charcoal, 40 g/L sucrose and 0.1 mg/L NAA resulted in the significantly highest rooting percentage (50%)while the significantly highest number of roots (6.0) were noted in ½ MS charcoal added (0.2%) basal medium with 40 g/L sucrose and 0.5 mg/L NAA. Shoots supported with filter paper bridge on ½ MS liquid medium, supplemented with 0.5 mg/L IBA, had the highest rooting percentage (66.7%) and the highest mean number of roots per shoot (3.0) (P<0.05). Results confirmed that in vitro rooting of G. walla could be perfected by optimizing the culture medium and its constituents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copper smelting slag is a significant potential resource for cobalt and copper. The recovery of copper and cobalt from copper slag could significantly augment the supply of these metals, which are essential to facilitating the transition to green energy while simultaneously addressing environmental concerns regarding slag disposal. However, the complex mineral composition of copper slag poses an enormous challenge. This study investigated the mineralogical and chemical characteristics of copper slag, which are vital for devising the most effective processing techniques. XRD and FESEM-EDS were employed to examine the morphologies of copper slag before and after the reduction process. The effects of borax and charcoal (carbocatalytic) reduction on phase transformation were evaluated. The XRD analysis revealed that the primary phases in the copper slag were Fe2SiO4 and Fe3O4. The FESEM-EDS analysis verified the presence of these phases and yielded supplementary details regarding metal embedment in the Fe2SiO4, Fe3O4, and Cu phases. The carbocatalytic reduction process expedited the transformation of copper slag microstructures from crystalline dendritic to amorphous and metallic phases. Finally, leaching experiments demonstrated the potential benefits of carbocatalytic reduction by yielding high extractions of Cu, Co, and Fe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is growing global concern regarding the detrimental health impacts of PM2.5 emissions from traditional stoves that utilize polluting fuels. Conventional methods for estimating daily personal PM2.5 exposure involve personal air samplers and measuring devices placed in a waist pouch, but these instruments are cumbersome and inconvenient. To address this issue, we developed a novel neck-mounted PM2.5 monitoring device (Pocket PM2.5 Logger) that is compact, lightweight, and can operate continuously for 1 week without recharging. Twelve participants who utilized charcoal, firewood, or propane gas for cooking in rural regions of Rwanda wore the Pocket PM2.5 Logger continuously for 1 week, and time-series variations in personal PM2.5 exposure were recorded at 5-min intervals. Individual daily exposure concentrations during cooking differed significantly among users of the different fuel types, and PM2.5 exposure was at least 2.6 and 3.4 times higher for charcoal and firewood users, respectively, than for propane gas users. Therefore, switching from biomass fuels to propane gas would reduce daily individual exposure by at least one-third. An analysis of cooking times showed that the median cooking time per meal was 30 min; however, half the participants cooked for 1.5 h per meal, and one-third cooked for over 4.5 h per meal. Reducing these extremely long cooking times would reduce exposure with all fuel types. The Pocket PM2.5 Logger facilitates the comprehensive assessment of personal PM2.5 exposure dynamics and is beneficial for the development of intervention strategies targeting household air pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the effects of bamboo charcoal (BBC) and coconut shell charcoal (CSC) on the adsorption and degradation of 3,5-dichloroaniline (3,5-DCA) in soil were investigated by batch equilibrium and soil incubation experiments. The pot experiment was conducted to study the effects of BBC and CSC on the uptake and bioaccumulation of 3,5-DCA in chives (Allium ascalonicum). The adsorption capacity of CSC and BBC to 3,5-DCA depended on their specific surface area and total pore volume, and the adsorption mechanism was mainly physical. Two types of biochar delayed the degradation of 3, 5-DCA in the soil and were positively correlated with their dose. Biochar effectively alleviated the negative effects of 3,5-DCA on plant height and fresh weight of chive, with a decreasing order of CSC > BBC. Compared with the control, the accumulation of 3,5-DCA in chives decreased by 36.44% ~ 65.70% and 36.05% ~ 68.12%, respectively, with the addition of 0.1% ~ 1.0% BBC and CSC. These two types of biochar increased the adsorption capacity and persistence of 3,5-DCA in soil but alleviated biotoxicity and reduced accumulation in chive plants. CSC promises greater potential than BBC for remediation of 3,5-DCA contaminated soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The production of açaí seed waste from the commercial and extractive exploitation of the Euterpe oleraceae palm tree is a serious problem that contributes to environmental contamination and production of greenhouse gases, a fact that suggests the need for an environmentally correct destination for this waste produced on a large scale. To this end, this study was conducted to evaluate the potential of acaí seed biochar (BCA) in mitigating the toxic effects of copper in Brazilian mahogany plants, analyzing biometrics and gas exchange. The experimental design was in randomized blocks, with five blocks, in a 4 × 3 factorial scheme, corresponding to the control (without Cu) and three concentration of Cu (200, 400, and 600 mg Cu kg−1) and three levels of BCA (0%, 5% and 10%) proportional to the amount of soil in the pots, totaling sixty experimental units. The use of 5% BCA in soils contaminated with up to 200 mg kg−1 Cu promoted biometric increase (height, diameter, number of leaves), maintaining gas exchange (photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, transpiration, internal carbon and internal/external carbon), and consequently, maintaining water use efficiency in plants under abiotic stress, resulting in plant growth. The findings of this study allow us to indicate the use of biochar in remediating and improving the growth of plants grown in copper-contaminated soils. The production of biochar from açaí seeds is an ecologically sustainable alternative, because it reduces its accumulation on public roads and contributes to reducing soil pollution. In the context of public policies, biochar production could be a source of income in the context of the bioeconomy and circular economy practiced in the Amazon, because it is produced in large quantities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the past two decades, repeated discoveries of numerous geometric earthworks in interfluvial regions of Amazonia have shed new light onto the territorial extent and the long-term impact of pre-Columbian populations on contemporary landscapes. In particular, the recent development of LiDAR imagery has accelerated the discovery of earthworks in densely forested hinterlands throughout the Amazon basin and the Guiana Shield. This study aimed to evaluate the extent and landscape-scale spatial variations of pre-Columbian disturbances at three ring ditch sites in the French Guiana hinterland. We carried out extensive soil surveys along approximately 1 km-long transects spanning from ring ditches through the surrounding landscapes, and drawn upon multiple indicators, including archaeological artifacts, macro- and micro-charcoals, soil colorimetry, and physicochemical properties to retrace the pre-Columbian history of these sites in terms of occupation periods, anthropogenic soil alteration, and ancient land use. Our results revealed a perennial occupation of these sites over long periods ranging from the 5th and 15th centuries CE, with local enrichments in chemical indicators (Corg, N, Mg, K, Ca) both within the enclosures of ring ditches and in the surrounding landscapes. Physicochemical properties variations were accompanied by variations in soil colorimetry, with darker soils within the enclosure of ring ditches in terra-firme areas. Interestingly however, soil properties did not meet all the characteristics of the so-called Amazonian Dark Earths, thus advocating a paradigm shift towards a better integration of Amazonian Brown Earths into the definition of anthropogenic soils in Amazonia. Soil disturbances were also associated to local enrichments in macro- and micro-charcoals that support in situ fire management that could be attributed to forest clearance and/or slash-and-burn cultivation. Taken together, our results support the idea that pre-Columbian societies made extensive use of their landscapes in the interfluvial regions of the French Guiana hinterlands. [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]

The adsorption of glacial acetic acid over a charcoal support was investigated. The amount of adsorption was analyzed using a traditional titration method and the prepared adsorbed system was employed as a heterogeneous catalyst for organic reactions as a viable application. Different 14-aryl-14H-dibenzo[a,j]xanthenes were synthesized using mild acidic charcoal as a catalyst and yields of 88%-94% were obtained. The advantages of this method include the easy preparation of a cheaper and environmentally safe catalyst system, a simple work-up procedure, and excellent catalytic efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermophilic acetogenic bacteria have attracted attention as promising candidates for biotechnological applications such as syngas fermentation, microbial electrosynthesis, and methanol conversion. Here, we aimed to isolate and characterize novel thermophilic acetogens from diverse environments. Enrichment of heterotrophic and autotrophic acetogens was monitored by 16S rRNA gene-based bacterial community analysis. Seven novel Moorella strains were isolated and characterized by genomic and physiological analyses. Two Moorella humiferrea isolates showed considerable differences during autotrophic growth. The M. humiferrea LNE isolate (DSM 117358) fermented carbon monoxide (CO) to acetate, while the M. humiferrea OCP isolate (DSM 117359) transformed CO to hydrogen and carbon dioxide (H2 + CO2), employing the water–gas shift reaction. Another carboxydotrophic hydrogenogenic Moorella strain was isolated from the covering soil of an active charcoal burning pile and proposed as the type strain (ACPsT) of the novel species Moorella carbonis (DSM 116161T and CCOS 2103T). The remaining four novel strains were affiliated with Moorella thermoacetica and showed, together with the type strain DSM 2955T, the production of small amounts of ethanol from H2 + CO2 in addition to acetate. The physiological analyses of the novel Moorella strains revealed isolate-specific differences that considerably increase the knowledge base on thermophilic acetogens for future applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The anatomical description of wood and charcoal for a wide variety of purposes is an essential tool for compiling databases to correctly identify species. This study describes and compares the anatomy of the wood and charcoal of Manilkara sp., collected in a protected area in the Pará state, Brazil. The qualitative anatomical characteristics of the wood, such as diffuse-porosity; vessels in radial multiples; alternate intervessel pits; axial parenchyma in lines or reticulate; rays uniseriate or biseriate, not storied, are corroborated in the literature. Moreover, this work reports the presence of helical thickenings in the vessel elements and possible helical thickenings in fibres in Manilkara. After the carbonization process, there were morphometric changes in the anatomical elements, as an increase in vessel frequency between 23 % and 141 %, and in ray frequency between 2.8 % and 12.9 %; while ray height decreased and ray width increased. Overall, some anatomical variations could be related to, or a result of the interaction between species plasticity, genetics, age and environmental factors. These characteristics enabled the identification of the samples at the genus level and the anatomical description of the wood and charcoal can be useful for forest inspections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biochar is recognized for its potential in mitigating climate change, especially through carbon sequestration and soil improvement. To this end, it is important to use all co-products from pyrolysis in a sustainable and economically viable way. In this study, the conversion of sugarcane bagasse at varying pyrolysis temperatures was investigated using 1H NMR spectroscopy and Chenomx for liquid fraction analysis. The yield of biochar decreased significantly from 45.3 to 3.5% with a temperature increase of 300 to 1000 °C. The morphological analysis revealed that biochar produced at lower temperatures (300 °C and 400 °C) showed tubular and spongy structures, whereas at higher temperatures (600 °C and 800 °C), the structures morphed into holes and thinned further, ultimately degrading further at 1000 °C. All samples of biochar showed characteristics promising for soil improvement and carbon sequestration (O/C < 0.4). The analysis of liquid fractions revealed that biomethanol reached its highest concentration of 19.28 mM at 800 °C, which coincided with the highest production of acetic and lactic acids. Additionally, the highest concentration of acetone was observed at 600 °C. These findings highlight the importance of optimizing pyrolysis conditions for enhanced yields of biochar and platform compounds, as well as the potential of the NMR and Chenomx in bioenergy research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Biochar refers to any material that has transformed into an amorphous, graphite-like structure as a result of the thermochemical conversion of organic materials. Incorporating biochar into soil contributes to mitigating the effects of climate change through the sequestration and storage of carbon. There are numerous methods for producing biochar, including pyrolysis, gasification, hydrothermal carbonization, and flash carbonization. The choice of technology largely depends on the intended use of the biochar and the type of biomass available. However, traditional production processes often face environmental challenges, especially in developing countries. This study introduces several traditional charcoal-burning techniques used around the world and provides an overview of modern industrial biochar production methods. International organizations have developed standards for determining the quality parameters of biochar and have proposed guidelines for its application in soil. According to the available literature, biochar presents a promising opportunity for advancing sustainable agriculture and mitigating climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biochar (BC) is often used as an additive in anaerobic digestion (AD) to increase yield and/or to stabilise the process when the manure content is increased. Unfortunately, BC is rarely described in detail in terms of its raw material sources, production processes, and structural, physical and chemical properties to allow correlation with its effects on AD. It is an open question whether microorganisms from AD can penetrate into different biochar pore types, depending on their wood origin. In this paper, we describe the preparation (temperatures, treatment times, yields) and characterisation shrinkage, density, pore sizes, pore size distribution, specific surface area, ash, volatiles, fixed carbon, elemental composition, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), benzene, toluene, ethyl-toluene, xylene (BTEX) and volatile halogenated hydrocarbons (VHH) of BC cubes of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) and common beech (Fagus sylvatica) powder made from this BC in addition to commercial charcoal powder. The pore size distribution determined by mercury porosimetry differs from that determined by 3D-reflected light microscopy. After incubating BC cubes in AD, the cubes were mechanically cleaned and cut into two pieces. Microorganisms were detected inside the cubes by fluorescence microscopy. Particle size and wood source determine the influence of BC on AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The steel industry accounts, according to the International Energy Agency, for ~6.7% of global CO2 emissions, and the major portion of its contribution is from steelmaking via the blast furnace (BF) route. In the short term, a significant reduction in fossil CO2 emissions can be achieved through the introduction of bio-coal into the BF as part of cold bonded briquettes, by injection, or as part of coke. The use of bio-coal-containing residue briquettes was previously demonstrated in industrial trials in Sweden, whereas bio-coal injection was only tested on a pilot scale or in one-tuyere tests. Therefore, industrial trials replacing part of the pulverized coal (PC) were conducted. It was concluded that the grinding, conveying, and injection of up to 10% of charcoal (CC) with PC can be safely achieved without negative impacts on PC injection plant or BF operational conditions and without losses of CC with the dust. From a process point of view, higher addition is possible, but it must be verified that grinding and conveying is feasible. Through an experimentally validated computational fluid flow model, it was shown that a high moisture content and the presence of oversized particles delay devolatilization and ignition, lowering the combustion efficiency. By using CC with similar heating value to PC, compositional variations in the injected blend are not critical. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Waste‐to‐3R (reduce, reuse, and recycle) is a promising mass balance approach in the leather sector for addressing the current challenge of overproduction of rubber sole waste in the footwear industry and dye pollution in tanneries. In this study, low‐cost charcoal derived from discarded natural rubber (NR) soles was effectively employed to remove anionic and cationic dyes from a model tannery dye solution, aligning with mass balance approaches in the leather sector. Discarded rubber charcoal (DRC) was prepared at 350°C using a self‐fabricated pyrolytic cell. The resulting charcoal was then dried, ground, and separated through 40‐mesh size lab‐scale sieves, and it was subsequently employed for the removal of dyes from tannery wastewater. The dye removal performance was optimized by adjusting parameters such as dosage, pH, contact time, and concentration. The maximum adsorption capacity and removal efficiency of the anionic acid dye (AD) were found to be 158.22 mg/g and 88.39% at pH 1, respectively, while those of the cationic methylene blue dye were 166.18 mg/g and 85.53% at pH 12, respectively, between 15 and 30 min, depending on the DRC conditions. Fresh charcoal and dye‐loaded charcoal were characterized through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, x‐ray diffraction, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller, scanning electron microscope (SEM), and transmission electron microscope with Energy‐Dispersive X‐ray (EDX) Spectroscopy for respective functional groups and morphology studies, and zeta potential measurements were employed to characterize the charcoal surface charge. The SEM image revealed that the shape of the DRC particles resembles a honeycomb structure, with an average size of 573.56 µm. The adsorption kinetic study indicates that the Freundlich isotherm model and pseudo‐second‐order kinetics were well‐fitted for dye removal in this study. The charcoal exhibited robust stability, retaining its capacity of 57.42 mg/g of AD and 44.94 mg/g of MB dye after four reuse cycles. This resilience was observed in treatment with various desorption agents, including HCl, CH3COOH, NaOH, and C2H5OH. The findings of this study suggest that NR‐derived charcoal could be used as a successful substitute for commercial activated carbon in wastewater treatment to get rid of the acid and basic dyes of the leather industry. Based on the observed results, a plausible mechanism was also proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background This study aimed to investigate the in vitro effect of a charcoal-containing dentifrice with different toothbrush stiffness on enamel. Methods Four main groups were applied: distilled water, conventional fluoridated toothpaste (Colgate® Total® 12 Clean Mint Toothpaste), charcoal toothpaste (Colgate® Total® Charcoal Toothpaste) and whitening toothpaste (Colgate Total® Advanced Whitening Toothpaste). Three subgroups for each toothpaste were further included according to the toothbrush bristles’ stiffness (soft, medium, and hard). Enamel specimens were subjected to 1,250 and 2,500 cycles of brushing using toothbrushing simulation machine. The average surface roughness change (ΔRa) in nanometer (nm) was measured to estimate the changes following the brushing simulation model. Two-way ANOVA and Tukey tests analyzed the data. Results The type of toothpaste and the bristles’ stiffness were determinant factors in increasing the ΔRa value (P =

Abstract Escalations in wildfire activity are of significant global concern, particularly within vulnerable wetland ecosystems integral to natural carbon sequestration and climate change mitigation. Our understanding and management of future wildfire activity may be better contextualised through the study of historic and ancient fire records, independent of human influence. Methods of study include ‘geothermometry’ - approximating ancient fire intensity from temperature-dependent changes in the chemistry of fossil charcoal. Though well established in their relation to experimental charcoalification, these methods still fail to quantify the true intensity of ancient fires, as a measure of energy release. As a result, their applicability, and contributions to the characterisation of modern fire activity, remain uncertain. Here, we present a novel measure of wildfire energy release, as a proxy for true intensity, through the co-application of cone calorimetry and Raman spectroscopy of charcoal. By applying a range of wildfire heat fluxes to variable peatland fuel mixes, this research demonstrates the complexity in correlating fire behaviour and charcoal microstructure. Further statistical analyses suggest a correlation between spectroscopic results, measures of CO and CO2 release, and fire severity. This offers a principal measure of ancient wildfire intensity, consistent with modern practices in wildfire modelling, monitoring, and management.

Abstract The production of açaí seed waste from the commercial and extractive exploitation of the Euterpe oleraceae palm tree is a serious problem that contributes to environmental contamination and production of greenhouse gases, a fact that suggests the need for an environmentally correct destination for this waste produced on a large scale. To this end, this study was conducted to evaluate the potential of acaí seed biochar (BCA) in mitigating the toxic effects of copper in Brazilian mahogany plants, analyzing biometrics and gas exchange. The experimental design was in randomized blocks, with five blocks, in a 4 × 3 factorial scheme, corresponding to the control (without Cu) and three concentration of Cu (200, 400, and 600 mg Cu kg−1) and three levels of BCA (0%, 5% and 10%) proportional to the amount of soil in the pots, totaling sixty experimental units. The use of 5% BCA in soils contaminated with up to 200 mg kg−1 Cu promoted biometric increase (height, diameter, number of leaves), maintaining gas exchange (photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, transpiration, internal carbon and internal/external carbon), and consequently, maintaining water use efficiency in plants under abiotic stress, resulting in plant growth. The findings of this study allow us to indicate the use of biochar in remediating and improving the growth of plants grown in copper-contaminated soils. The production of biochar from açaí seeds is an ecologically sustainable alternative, because it reduces its accumulation on public roads and contributes to reducing soil pollution. In the context of public policies, biochar production could be a source of income in the context of the bioeconomy and circular economy practiced in the Amazon, because it is produced in large quantities.