Sugarcane Bagasse Biochar: Preparation, Characterization, and Its Effects on Soil Properties and Zinc Sorption-desorption

Abstract

ABSTRACT Application of alkaline biochar has been proposed as an alternative to lime for remediation of acidic soils. However, questions remain as to how the reactions and fate of metals in acidic soils can be affected by biochar amendment. To find out how biochar addition might affect sorption-desorption behavior of zinc (Zn) in acidic soils, a soil with an initial pH value of 4.67 was treated with different levels [0 (control), 1%, 3%, and 6%] of biochar produced from pyrolysis of sugarcane bagasse at 600°C and incubated for 30 days under 80% of water holding capacity. At the end of the incubation period, important soil chemical properties were measured and batch isotherm experiments were performed to determine soil Zn sorption-desorption parameters. The results showed that the biochar-amended soils had higher pH values (up to 2.5 pH units), electrical conductivity (up to 2.66 times), and cation exchange capacities (up to 42%) relative to the un-amended acidic soil. Biochar addition also led to significant enhancements in soil exchangeable calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium cations. Both sorption and desorption isotherm experiments revealed the significantly higher capacity of the biochar-amended soils to retain Zn than that of the control. Moreover, the biochar-amended soils exhibited a higher affinity for Zn sorption than did the un-amended acidic one. It can be concluded that biochar derived from sugarcane bagasse could serve as a good amendment material to reclaim acidic soils and to reduce Zn mobility and toxicity in acidic metal-contaminated soils.