Management of biosolids-derived hydrochar (Sewchar): Effect on plant germination, and farmers' acceptance

Melo, Tatiane Medeiros; Bottlinger, Michael; Schulz, Elke; Leandro, Wilson Mozena; Oliveira, Sérgio Botelho de; Filho, Adelmo Menezes de Aguiar; El-Naggar, Ali; Bolan, Nanthi; Wang, Hailong; Ok, Yong Sik; Rinklebe, Jörg

doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.02.042

Cited by 51 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 65 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…In China, wastewater treatment plants would indirectly produce approximately 60 million tons of sewage sludge each year, and its disposal can incur substantial costs. Converting sewage sludge into biochar (i.e., sewchar) would greatly decrease the risk of heavy metals in sewage sludge as well as reduce the disposal cost of sewage sludge (Kong et al 2019;Melo et al 2019;Wang et al 2019g, h). Moreover, sewage sludge-derived biochars are high-efficiency adsorbents for heavy metals, and high pyrolysis temperature favors the sorption of heavy metals (de Figueiredo et al 2019;Gao et al 2019a).…”

Section: Heavy Metal Immobilizationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Visualizing the emerging trends of biochar research and applications in 2019: a scientometric analysis and review

Wang

et al. 2020

Biochar

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Biochar, derived from thermal pyrolysis of biomass, has been regarded as a low-cost, sustainable and beneficial material and widely applied in agriculture, environment and energy during the last two decades. To elucidate the research status timely and future trends in biochar field, CiteSpace is used to systematically analyze the related literature retrieved from the Web of Science core collection in 2019. Based on the keywords clustering analysis, it was found that "biochar production", "organic pollutants removal", "heavy metals immobilization", "bioremediation" were the main hotspots in research covering biochar. "Bioremediation" is an emerging topic and deserves extensive attention due to its highly effective and environmentally friendly treatment of pollutants. Improving the phytoremediation effect, immobilizing functional microorganisms on biochar, and using microorganisms as raw materials to produce biochar were the common methods of biochar-assisted bioremediation. While studies focused on "soil quality and plant growth" and "biochar and global climate change" decreased, investigations concentrated in the toxicity of biochar to soil biota and ruminants are sustainably growing. Research on direct and catalytic thermal pyrolysis of green waste (mainly microalgae) for biofuels (bio-oil, biodiesel, syngas, etc.) and biochar production is increasing. Converting municipal wastes (e.g., sewage sludge, fallen leaves) into biochar through pyrolysis was a suitable treatment for municipal waste and became a popular topic in recent time. Moreover, the biochar produced from these municipal wastes exhibited excellent performance in the removal of pollutants from wastewater and soil. This review may help to identify future directions in biochar research and applications.

show abstract

Section: Heavy Metal Immobilizationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Visualizing the emerging trends of biochar research and applications in 2019: a scientometric analysis and review

Wang

et al. 2020

Biochar

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The high input of PO 4 -P from such amendments could exceed the limited sorption capacity of soils for PO 4 -P, particularly in sandy soils, thus resulting in leaching as an unintended consequence (Alterra 2011). Additionally, an excessive concentration of nutrients resulting from high HC application rates has also shown to reduce the biomass production of some plant crops, such as beans (Melo et al 2019). Therefore, to reduce the potential for PO 4 -P loss by leaching and toxic soil conditions, a systematic application of HC in smaller doses is recommended, rather than a single large dose application (Lehmann and Schroth 2003).…”

Section: Phosphate (Po 4 -P)mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These results must, however, also consider plant species as an influential factor, and cognizance must be given to the fact that the same application rate could have very different effects on different plant crops (Bargmann et al 2014a). For example, Melo et al (2019) found the highest yields for beans and rice were achieved by the addition of the same (sewage sludge-derived) HC at different application rates, namely 0.5% and 3%, respectively. Although the results of this study do not satisfy the hypothesis that higher application rates would reduce plant growth, the addition of HC (at all concentrations) did not induce any positive effects either, despite the provision of conditions that typically promote plant growth (e.g.…”

Section: Biomass Productionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An investigation of the effects of hydrochar application rate on soil amelioration and plant growth in three diverse soils

Jager

Giani

2021

Biochar

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) of biogas digestate alters the raw materials inherent characteristics to produce a carbon (C)-rich hydrochar (HC), with an improved suitability for soil amelioration. Numerous studies report conflicting impacts of various HC application rates on soil properties and plant growth. In this study, the influence of HC application rate on soil improvement and plant growth aspects was investigated in three diverse soils (Chernozem, Podzol, and Gleysol). Pot trials were conducted in which all soils were amended with 5, 10, 20 and 30% (w/w) HC in quintuplicate, with two controls of pure soil (with and without plants, respectively) also included. Prior to potting, soil samples were collected from all HC-amended soils and controls and analyzed for soil pH, plant available nutrients (PO4-P and K), and microbial activity using standard laboratory and statistical methods. Immediately after potting, a 6-week seed germination experiment using Chinese cabbage was conducted to determine germination success, followed by a plant growth experiment of equal duration and plant species to determine biomass success. At the end of the study (after a total plant growth period of 12 weeks), each pot was sampled and comparatively analyzed for the same soil properties as at the beginning of the study. Soil pH shifted toward the pH of the HC (6.6) in all soils over the course of the study, but was most expressed in the 20% and 30% application rates, confirming the well-documented liming effect of HC. The addition of HC increased the PO4-P and K contents, particularly with 20% and 30% HC amendments. These results are proposedly due to the large labile C fraction of the HC, which is easily degradable by microorganisms. The rapid decomposition of this C fraction prompted the quick release of the HCs inherently high PO4-P and K content into the soil, and in turn, further stimulated microbial activity, until this fraction was essentially depleted. HC addition did not inhibit seed germination at any rate, presumably due to a lack of phytotoxic compounds in the HC from aging and microbial processes, and furthermore, showed no significant impact (positive or negative) on plant growth in any soil, despite improved soil conditions. In conclusion, although less pronounced, soil improvements were still achievable and maintainable at lower application rates (5% and 10%), whereas higher rates did not ensure greater benefits for plant growth. While the addition of high rates of HC did not detrimentally effect soil quality or plant growth, it could lead to leaching if the nutrient supply exceeds plant requirements and the soil’s nutrient retention capacity. Therefore, this study validates the previous study in the effectiveness of the biogas digestate HC for soil amelioration and suggests that smaller regularly repeated HC applications may be recommendable for soil improvement.

show abstract

“…For investigating the soil amendment properties of sewage sludge derived hydrochars speci cally on the growing potential of rice, beans and radish, Melo et al conducted a series of experiments which revealed an acceptable application range of hydrochars for agricultural purposes (Melo et al 2019). They also emphasized the need for a standardized HTC treatment for speci c plant and soil types.…”

Section: Gas Productionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Review on Sewage Sludge Valorization via Hydrothermal Carbonization and Applications for Circular Economy

Cebi

Çeliktaş

Sarptaş

2021

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In pursuit of establishing a circular economy, waste-to-energy approach is gaining increasing attention. In this manner valorization of sewage sludge constitutes a critical importance due to generation in high quantities, difficulties in disposal and associating environmental impacts. Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) is a relatively recent, however acclaimed method for sewage sludge management and valorization due to process compliance with sludge characteristics. In this review, research studies are evaluated under the categorization of application fields of sludge derived HTC products such as solid fuel production, gas production, soil remediation, nutrient recovery, water treatment and energy storage. Research findings are compiled and a network mapping is employed for the visualization of the current situation and correlation in respective fields. The potential of HTC for sewage sludge valorization and future projections concerning available techniques are assessed within the context of circular economy.

show abstract

Management of biosolids-derived hydrochar (Sewchar): Effect on plant germination, and farmers' acceptance

Cited by 51 publications

References 65 publications

Visualizing the emerging trends of biochar research and applications in 2019: a scientometric analysis and review

Visualizing the emerging trends of biochar research and applications in 2019: a scientometric analysis and review

An investigation of the effects of hydrochar application rate on soil amelioration and plant growth in three diverse soils

A Review on Sewage Sludge Valorization via Hydrothermal Carbonization and Applications for Circular Economy

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About