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Can Biochar From Contaminated Biomass Be Applied Into Soil for Remediation Purposes?

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Abstract

The carbon rich material obtained from pyrolysis process, i.e. biochar, has been widely discussed during the last decade due to its utilisation as a soil amendment. Furthermore, there is an unsolved question of biomass disposal from phytoremediation technologies. The idea of contaminated biomass pyrolysis has appeared, but there is lack of information about possible biochar utilisation obtained by this process. The aim of our study was to observe sorption properties of biochar prepared from contaminated biomass and release of contaminants from biochar back into the environment. The biomass of fast growing trees and maize was harvested on a site significantly damaged by risk element contamination (Cd, Pb and Zn). Plant biomass was pyrolysed and then the batch (de)sorption experiments were settled. The results confirmed no significant differences in metal sorption ability between biochars prepared from contaminated and uncontaminated biomass under the same conditions. The trend of maximum sorption capacity of observed matrices followed the order: wood biochar + soil (WB + soil) > wood uncontaminated biochar + soil (WUB + soil) > maize biochar + soil (MB + soil) > soil for cadmium, WB + soil > WUB + soil > soil for lead and MB + soil > WUB + soil > WB + soil > soil for zinc. Despite of increase of Zn desorption from wood biochars, maximum sorption capacity of the final WB + soil system was comparable to the WUB+soil sample. Our laboratory experiments showed high potential of biochar from contaminated plants as a soil amendment with sorption abilities and minimal risk of metal release.

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Acknowledgments

The financial support by CIGA (donated by the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague) project contract no. 20132007 is greatly appreciated.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agro-Environmental Chemistry and Plant Nutrition, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, 165 21, Prague, Suchdol, Czech Republic

    Kateřina Břendová, Pavel Tlustoš & Jiřina Száková

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  1. Kateřina Břendová
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  2. Pavel Tlustoš
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  3. Jiřina Száková
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Correspondence to Kateřina Břendová.

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Břendová, K., Tlustoš, P. & Száková, J. Can Biochar From Contaminated Biomass Be Applied Into Soil for Remediation Purposes?. Water Air Soil Pollut 226, 193 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-015-2456-9

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