Application of a full-scale wood gasification biochar as a soil improver to reduce organic pollutant leaching risks

Trinh, Bao-Son, Werner, David and Reid, Brian J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9613-979X (2017) Application of a full-scale wood gasification biochar as a soil improver to reduce organic pollutant leaching risks. Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology, 92 (8). 1928–1937. ISSN 0268-2575

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: The application of biochar to sandy loam soil to reduce leaching of three representative pollutants (a persistent hydrocarbon (phenanthrene; logKOW 4.46), a herbicide (isoproturon; logKOW 2.50), and an antibiotic (sulfamethazine; logKOW 0.28)) were investigated. The wood-derived biochar evaluated in our laboratory study was the solid co-product of a full-scale gasifier feeding a combined heat and power plant. The research aimed to demonstrate multiple environmental benefits with the innovative use of this biochar as a soil improver. RESULTS: Batch sorption experiments indicated 5% biochar added to soil enhanced the partitioning coefficient (Kd) by factors of 2 for phenanthrene and 20 for both sulfamethazine and isoproturon. Column leaching experiments indicated a reduced porewater flow rate, up to 80% slower in the column amended with 5% biochar, and reduced pollutant leaching risks. Numerical models interlinked batch and column study observations. CONCLUSION: (i) Biochar enhanced sorption for the hydrophobic pollutant phenanthrene, and also the less hydrophobic pollutants sulfamethazine and isoproturon; (ii) reduced porewater flow rates following biochar amendment gave rise to greater opportunity for pollutant-solid interaction; (iii) mixing with soil resulted in biochar fouling affecting pollutant partition, and (iv) irreversible retention of pollutants by the soil was an important mechanism affecting pollutant transport.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	char,persistant organic pollutants (pops),sorption,diffusion,mass transfer,modelling
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Science > School of Environmental Sciences
UEA Research Groups:	Faculty of Science > Research Centres > Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Environmental Biology Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Resources, Sustainability and Governance (former - to 2018) Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Geosciences Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Geosciences and Natural Hazards (former - to 2017)
Depositing User:	Pure Connector
Date Deposited:	01 Feb 2017 02:17
Last Modified:	22 Oct 2022 02:11
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/62260
DOI:	10.1002/jctb.5219

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