Stalk Biochar Research Articles

Removal of Pb(II) and Cd(II) from a Monometallic Contaminated Solution by Modified Biochar-Immobilized Bacterial Microspheres.

Lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) are toxic pollutants that are prevalent in wastewater and pose a serious threat to the natural environment. In this study, a new immobilized bacterial microsphere (CYB-SA) was prepared from corn stalk biochar and Klebsiella grimontii by sodium alginate encapsulation and vacuum freeze-drying technology. The removal effect of CYB-SA on Pb(II) and Cd(II) in a monometallic contaminated solution was studied. The results showed that the removal of Pb(II) and Cd(II) by CYB-SA was 99.14% and 83.35% at a dosage of 2.0 g/L and pH = 7, respectively, which was 10.77% and 18.58% higher than that of biochar alone. According to the Langmuir isotherm model, the maximum adsorption capacities of Pb(II) and Cd(II) by CYB-SA at 40 °C were 278.69 mg/g and 71.75 mg/g, respectively. A combination of the kinetic model, the isothermal adsorption model, scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analyses showed that the main adsorption mechanisms of CYB-SA encompass functional group complexation, ion exchange, electrostatic attraction and physical adsorption. The findings of this study offer practical and theoretical insights into the development of highly efficient adsorbents for heavy metals.

Biochar decreases cadmium uptake in indica and japonica rice (Oryza sativa L.): Roles of soil properties, iron plaque, cadmium transporter genes and rhizobacteria

Biochar is an effective and economical strategy for in situ soil cadmium (Cd) remediation. It is essential to comprehensively investigate how biochar mitigates Cd uptake of the main rice subspecies. A pot experiment was established via adding corn stalk biochar into Cd-contaminated soil growing indica Yangdao 6 (YD) and japonica Nangeng 9108 (9108). 9108 had lower shoot biomass (−17.9%) but higher root biomass (+14.4%) and shoot Cd concentration (+29.4%) than YD. Biochar decreased soil available Cd by 25.2% and shoot Cd concentration by 13.6% through the liming and passivation effects. Biochar also favored Cd mitigation by recruiting Fe reducer, Cd remover and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (e.g. Bacteroides, Deferrisomatota, Bacillus and Allorhizobium). Besides, biochar reduced Cd uptake by stimulating iron plaques formation for 9108. Moreover, biochar did not reduce Cd uptake by inhibiting Cd transporter genes’ expressions and it increased OsHMA2 expression in YD. In conclusion, biochar had great capacity in mitigating Cd pollution and rice subspecies responded differently to biochar in iron plaque formation and Cd transporter genes. The research established a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms underlying Cd mitigation by biochar and helped to breed low Cd-accumulated rice cultivars to safeguard rice production.

The Influence of Biochar on Heavy Metals Phytoaccumulation by Okra and Fluted Pumpkin Plants in Soil Contaminated With Petroleum Hydrocarbons

ABSTRACTThe study is aimed at assessing the impact of biochar on the phytoaccumulation of heavy metals by okra and fluted pumpkin plants in soil polluted with petroleum hydrocarbons, and its corresponding environmental and health‐related risks. A field experiment was conducted at the automobile workshop (commonly called mechanic village) using a randomized complete block design (RCBD). The field was divided into plots and three replicates. Maize stalk biochar (MSB) and nipa palm biochar (NPB) were treated differently in each plot at a rate of 20 t ha−1. Plots containing no biochar were used as controls. The soil samples were analyzed for petroleum hydrocarbon content (PHCt), selected heavy metals as well as some other soil physicochemical properties. Plant samples were only analyzed for heavy metal contents. Analysis of variance was used to analyze the data generated. The PHCt and heavy metal content in the soil were compared with the target values set by the Department of Petroleum Resources of Nigeria whereas heavy metals in plants were compared with FAO/WHO guidelines. Okra and fluted pumpkin were evaluated for phytoaccumulating potential using bioaccumulation factor (BAF). Ecological risk assessment was done using a hazard quotient (HQ). The PHCt, cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), and nickel (Ni) were significantly decreased following the application of biochar. The NPB recorded the lowest values for PHCt (64.4 mg kg−1), lead (16.0 mg kg−1), and Ni (12.8 mg kg−1) contents while MSB had the lowest values for Cd (0.3 mg kg−1) and Cr (7.6 mg kg−1) contents. The HQ analysis showed that Cr (2.93 mg kg−1) and Pb (156.83 mg kg−1) posed a very high ecological risk to the local ecosystem. The phytoaccumulated heavy metals in plants were above the maximum allowable levels, except Ni where the content was below the maximum allowable levels. Fluted pumpkin had the highest BAF values for Cd, Cr, Pb, and Ni. Therefore, fluted pumpkin can be used as an efficient phytoremediator for soil contaminated with Cd, Cr, Pb, and Ni.

Study on the Effect of Magnesium Chloride-Modified Straw Waste Biochar on Acidic Soil Properties.

Soil biochar is a kind of organic matter rich in carbon, which is of great significance in soil fertility improvement, fertilizer type innovation and greenhouse gas emission reduction. In this paper, Mg-modified biochar was prepared by thermal cracking using rice straw and corn straw as raw materials. The Mg-modified biochar and unmodified biochar were fully mixed with prepared soil samples at the addition amounts of 0.5% (w/w), 1% (w/w) and 2% (w/w), respectively, and then simulated indoor soil cultivation experiments were carried out. The effects of magnesium ion-modified biochar and non-modified biochar on soil chemical properties and the effects of different amounts of biochar on soil properties were studied. The results showed that the yield of Mg-modified biochar from rice straw and corn straw, prepared by pyrolysis, was 65%, and the ash content was large. The pH of MG-modified corn stalk biochar (MCBC) is weakly basic (8.55), while the pH of MG-modified rice stalk biochar (MRBC) is basic (10.1), and their internal structures are slightly different. After the application of biochar prepared from rice straw and maize stover, soil indicators were determined. Compared to the control, the chemical properties of the treated soil samples were significantly improved, with an increase in soil pH, an increase in the content of effective nutrients, such as fast-acting potassium, fast-acting phosphorus and alkaline dissolved nitrogen, and an increase in the content of the total phosphorus and total nitrogen, as well as an increase in the content of organic matter. The Mg-modified biochar was generally superior to the unmodified biochar in improving soil fertility, at the same addition level. It was also found that the rice-straw biochar performed better than the corn-stover biochar and had a more obvious effect on soil improvement in terms of fast-acting potassium, ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, total phosphorus and total nitrogen contents.

Coupled effects of Fenton-like systems with different concentrations of H2O2/Biochar on diethyl phthalate removal: Dominant role of environmental persistent free radicals (EPFRs)

To investigate the impact of different H2O2 concentrations on the Fenton-like systems of H2O2/biochar, this study examined the mechanism of the physical structure and environmental persistent free radicals (EPFRs) of biochar during diethyl phthalate (DEP) removal by the Fenton-like system. The peak-splitting method was utilized to differentiate EPFRs types in cotton stalk biochar produced at different temperatures. High-temperature environments promote π-electron delocalization, which facilitates phenyl π free radicals and σ-π oxygen-containing free radicals. By analyzing relationships between the removal rate K1 and removal constant Kobs of DEP with the structural properties of biochar, it was discovered that EPFRs concentrations in biochar had a significant positive correlation with K1 (r = 0.92) and Kobs (r = 0.97). Different H2O2 concentrations added to the biochar removal system resulted in varied DEP removal efficiency. Among them, CS500, CS550, and CS600 exhibited superior DEP removal efficiency when H2O2 concentration was 5 mM.

Influence of corn stalk and corn stalk biochar application on the strategy of phosphorus sorption and release in brown earth

AbstractThe characteristics of soil phosphorus (P) fixation and release have a critical impact on the availability of P and the risk of environmental loss. Investigation of the effects of corn stalk and corn stalk biochar on the P adsorption–desorption characteristics of brown earth can provide a theoretical basis for the rational return of crop stalk to the field and improving the availability of soil P. The Langmuir adsorption isotherm equation provided a better fit than the Freundlich equation for the curve of soil P adsorption and equilibrium solution P concentration. Biochar application increased the maximum adsorption capacity (MAC) and maximum buffer capacity (MBC) of the soil for P by 8.5% and 17.2%, respectively. Corn stalk and its biochar reduced the P adsorption saturation (DPS) by 41.8% and 31.9%, respectively, but increased the amount of readily desorbable P (RDP) by 39.7% and 154.4%, respectively. The application of corn stalk and its biochar improved the soil P desorption rate at substrate P concentrations of less than 5 mg L−1, whereas significant reductions in the soil P desorption rate were observed between 5 mg L−1 and 30 mg L−1, and no significant effects were observed at P concentrations over 40 mg L−1. In addition, the total P and Olsen‐P contents of the soil were significantly associated with the P adsorption–desorption process (p < .05). Therefore, corn stalk and corn stalk biochar can enhance the capacity of soil for P adsorption, with a stronger effect observed for biochar than for corn stalk, and the rate of P desorption from treated soil is dependent on P concentration in the soil solution.

Iron-based metal organic framework (Fe-MOF)-doped sesame stalk biochar enhances antibiotic degradation: Important role of free radicals and comparison of multiple degradation processes

A novel iron-based metal organic framework-doped sesame stalk biochar (Fe-MOF@SBC) composite was successfully synthesized using sonication and used for the degradation of sulfamethoxazole (SMX), norfloxacin (NOR), erythromycin (ERY) and tetracycline (TC) in aqueous solution. The characterization results indicated that Fe oxide was successfully loaded on the biochar. The Fe-MOF@SBC composite presented a porous structure enriched in micropores and mesopores. Adsorption mechanisms, including pore filling, π–π electron donor–acceptor (EDA) interactions, hydrophobic interactions, hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interactions, and the catalytic effect of the Fe-MOF@SBC composite facilitated antibiotic degradation. Specifically, single-layer and multilayer adsorption occurred, and abundant oxygen-containing functional groups were involved in the degradation of NOR, which might be one reason for the high degradation rate of NOR by the Fe-MOF@SBC composite. Scavenging experiments combined with electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) analysis indicated that free radicals such as •OH, O2−• and 1O2 played vital roles in the degradation of SMX, NOR, ERY and TC. Furthermore, the proposed degradation pathways and possible intermediates of SMX, NOR, ERY and TC were identified, which indicated that the adsorption properties and free radical (•OH, O2−• and 1O2) activity of the Fe-MOF@SBC composite strongly promoted the removal of SMX, NOR, ERY and TC.

Evaluation of carbonized cotton stalk for development of novel form stable composite phase change materials for solar thermal energy storage

Generating energy from the renewable sources is a pathway to attain sustainable energy systems. Utilizing bio-char produced from pyrolysis process as porous material would not only add great value to the waste discards, but also contributes towards enhancing the thermal properties. This work is focussed on the development of form stable phase change material (FSPCM) through a facile impregnation method by introducing cotton stalk biochar (CSB) as porous matrix along with polyethylene glycol having molar mass 10000 g/mol (PEG10000) as PCM. Cotton stalk is an agriculture waste material and biochar was produced by intermediate pyrolysis method at 550 °C. Thermal, chemical and surface characterization tests were executed on seepage free FSPCM (BCPCM4) as it showed no leakage at 60 °C. XRD, FTIR, FESEM, TGA, DSC, Raman spectroscopy and BET analysis were carried out to characterize thermal, chemical and surface properties of BCPCM4. The microporous structure of CSB was able to accommodate 80 wt% of PEG10000. Surface characterization tests demonstrated that adequate amount of PEG10000 was absorbed into the pores of CSB and the crystal structure of PEG10000 was not modified. The results of TGA illustrated that BCPCM4 was thermally stable. Additionally, cotton stalk derived FSPCM displayed high heat transfer rate which indicates an increase in thermal conductivity. To substantiate thermal reliability, 500 thermal cycles were run on BCPCM4 and about 1 % variation in latent heat has been noticed with meagre change in chemical properties. Therefore, biochar derived FSPCMs would serve as promising materials to accommodate solar thermal energy.

Comparative Study for Propranolol Adsorption on the Biochars from Different Agricultural Solid Wastes.

Currently, large amounts of agricultural solid wastes have caused serious environmental problems. Agricultural solid waste is made into biochar by pyrolysis, which is an effective means of its disposal. As the prepared biochar has a good adsorption capacity, it is often used to treat pollutants in water, such as heavy metals and pharmaceuticals. PRO is an emerging contaminant in the environment today. However, there are limited studies on the interaction between biochars with PRO. Thus, in this study, we investigate the adsorption of PRO onto the biochars derived from three different feedstocks. The order of adsorption capacity was corn stalk biochar (CS, 10.97 mg/g) > apple wood biochar (AW, 10.09 mg/g) > rice husk biochar (RH, 8.78 mg/g). When 2 < pH < 9, the adsorption capacity of all the biochars increased as the pH increased, while the adsorption decreased when pH > 9, 10 and 10.33 for AW, CS and RH, respectively. The adsorption of PRO on biochars was reduced with increasing Na+ and Ca2+ concentrations from 0 to 200 mg·L-1. The effects of pH and coexisting ions illustrated that there exist electrostatic interaction and cation exchange in the process. In addition, when HA concentration was less than 20 mg/L, it promoted the adsorption of PRO on the biochars; however, when the concentration was more than 20 mg/L, its promoting effect was weakened and gradually changed into an inhibitory effect. The adsorption isotherm data of PRO by biochars were best fitted with the Freundlich model, indicating that the adsorption process is heterogeneous adsorption. The adsorption kinetics were fitted well with the pseudo-second-order model. All the results can provide new information into the adsorption behavior of PRO and the biochars in the aquatic environment and a theoretical basis for the large-scale application of biochar from agricultural solid wastes.

The Concurrent Application of Phosphogypsum and Modified Biochar as Soil Amendments Influence Sandy Soil Quality and Wheat Productivity.

Sandy soil covers a significant portion of Egypt's total land area, representing a crucial agricultural resource for future food security and economic growth. This research adopts the hypothesis of maximizing the utilization of secondary products for soil improvement to reduce ecosystem pollution. The study focuses on assessing the impact of combining phosphogypsum and modified biochar as environmentally friendly soil amendments on loamy sand soil quality parameters such as soil organic carbon, cation exchange capacity, nutrient levels, and wheat yield. The treatments were T1: the recommended NPK fertilizer (control); T2: 2.5 kg phosphogypsum m-2 soil; T3: 2.5 kg rice straw biochar m-2 soil; T4: 2.5 kg cotton stalk biochar m-2 soil; T5: 2.5 kg rice-straw-modified biochar m-2 soil; T6: 2.5 kg cotton-stalk-modified biochar m-2 soil; and T7 to T10: mixed phosphogypsum and biochar treatments. The results revealed that the combined use of phosphogypsum and modified cotton stalk biochar (T10) significantly enhanced soil organic carbon (SOC) by 73.66% and 99.46% in both seasons, the soil available N both seasons by 130.12 and 161.45%, the available P by 89.49% and 102.02%, and the available K by 39.84 and 70.45% when compared to the control treatment. Additionally, this treatment led to the highest grain yield of wheat (2.72 and 2.92 Mg ha-1), along with a significant increase in straw yield (52.69% and 59.32%) compared to the control treatment. Overall, the findings suggest that the combined use of phosphogypsum and modified biochar, particularly cotton-stalk biochar, holds promise for improving loamy sand-soil quality and wheat productivity.

Characterization of Mulberry Stalk Biochar and its Impact on Soil Nutrients Release

An incubation study was conducted with graded levels of biochar to know the soil nutrients release till 120 days after incubation at Department of Soil Science and Agricultural chemistry, University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK, Bengaluru during 2021. The experiment consisted of 4 treatments replicated five times and was laid out in a completely randomized design. The mulberry stalk biochar was characterized and recorded a pH of 8.53 and Electrical conductivity of 0.39 dS m-1. The physical properties like bulk density (0.32 Mg m-3) and maximum water holding capacity (93.14 %) were measured. Mulberry stalk biochar had 69.37 per cent of total carbon, 0.89 per cent Nitrogen, 0.22 per cent Phosphorus, 0.65 per cent Potassium and secondary nutrients like Calcium of 0.96 per cent, 0.48 per cent Magnesium and 0.18 per cent sulphur and micronutrients like Iron (493 mg kg-1), Zinc (34.59 mg kg-1), Manganese (94.1 mg kg-1), copper (20.55 mg kg-1) and boron (33.5 mg kg-1) were recorded. It was observed that with increased levels of biochar application to soil from 5 to 10 t ha-1 positively influenced the nutrient release pattern in the soil. Higher primary, secondary and micronutrients were recorded with application of biochar @ 10 t ha-1 (T3) at 60, 90 and 120 days after incubation and lower values were recorded in control treatment (T4).

Recycling of Mulberry Stalk as Biochar and its Effect on Uptake of Nutrients by Mulberry

A field experiment was conducted in the mulberry crop to know the effect of soil application of mulberry stalk biochar on nutrients uptake by mulberry at farmer’s field at Sidlaghatta (Tq), Chikkabalapura District. A randomized block design was employed with eight treatments and three replications. A randomized block design was employed with eight treatments replicated thrice. Results revealed that, Combined soil application of biochar @ 10 t ha-1 and FYM @ 10 t ha-1 (T8) recorded higher leaf yield per hectare (13.07 t ha-1) and it was on par with T7 (12.61 t ha-1) which received soil application of biochar @ 7.5 t ha-1 and FYM @ 10 t ha-1. The lowest leaf yield of 10.45 t ha-1 was recorded in control which was devoid of biochar. Among different treatments, significantly higher uptake of primary nutrients (Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium of 90.68, 9.07 and 47.10 kg ha-1, respectively) secondary nutrients (calcium, magnesium and sulphur of 44.48, 17.26 and 9.75 kg ha-1, respectively) and micronutrients (iron, manganese, zinc, copper and boron of 748.20, 153.22, 139.34, 60.92 and 54.25 g ha-1, respectively) by mulberry were recorded in the treatment (T8) which received soil application of biochar @ 10 t ha-1 + FYM @ 10 t ha-1 and followed by T7 which received biochar @ 7.5 t ha-1 + FYM @ 10 t ha-1 and found superior over other treatments. The control with no biochar application recorded lower nutrients uptake by mulberry crop. The findings revealed that utilization of mulberry stalk as a biochar has positive effect on nutrient uptake by mulberry crop and it could partly replace chemical fertilizers and promote organic farming in a circular economy concept.

Field Examinations on the Application of Novel Biochar-Based Microbial Fertilizer on Degraded Soils and Growth Response of Flue-Cured Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.).

Southwestern China is receiving excessive chemical fertilizers to meet the challenges of continuous cropping. These practices are deteriorating the soil environment and affecting tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) yield and quality adversely. A novel microbially enriched biochar-based fertilizer was synthesized using effective microorganisms, tobacco stalk biochar and basal fertilizer. A field-scale study was conducted to evaluate the yield response of tobacco grown on degraded soil amended with our novel biochar-based microbial fertilizer (BF). Four treatments of BF (0%, 1.5%, 2.5% and 5%) were applied in the contaminated field to grow tobacco. The application of BF1.5, BF2.5 and BF5.0 increased the available water contents by 9.47%, 1.18% and 2.19% compared to that with BF0 respectively. Maximum growth of tobacco in terms of plant height and leaf area was recorded for BF1.5 compared to BF0. BF1.5, BF2.5 and BF5.0 increased SPAD by 13.18-40.53%, net photosynthetic rate by 5.44-60.42%, stomatal conductance by 8.33-44.44%, instantaneous water use efficiency by 55.41-93.24% and intrinsic water use efficiency by 0.09-24.11%, while they decreased the intercellular CO2 concentration and transpiration rate by 3.85-6.84% and 0.29-47.18% relative to BF0, respectively (p < 0.05). The maximum increase in tobacco yield was recorded with BF1.5 (23.81%) compared to that with BF0. The present study concludes that the application of BF1.5 improves and restores the degraded soil by improving the hydraulic conductivity and by increasing the tobacco yield.

Effect of Mulberry Stalk Biochar on Soil Nutrients Status and Productivity of Mulberry (Morus alba L.)

Biochar as an organic amendment improves soil attributes, with a potentially significant effect on soil fertility. The main objective of this study was to quantify the effect of biochar addition on nutrients status in mulberry cultivated soil. A field experiment was conducted in the mulberry crop to know the effect of soil application of mulberry stalk biochar on nutrients build up in soil at farmer’s field at Sidlaghatta (TQ), Chikkaballapura District during 2020-2021 (rabi2020, summer and kharif-2021). A randomized block design was employed with eight treatments replicated thrice T1: Control (NPK375:140:140 kg ha-1 alone) T2: POP (FYM (25 t ha-1) + NPK 375:140:140 kg ha-1) T3: Soil application of biochar @ 5 t ha-1T4: Soil application of biochar @ 7.5 t ha-1 T5: Soil application of biochar @ 10 t ha-1T6: Soil application of biochar @ 5 t ha-1 + FYM @ 10 t ha-1T7: Soil application of biochar @7.5 t ha-1 + FYM @ 10 t ha-1T8: Soil application of biochar @ 10 t ha-1 + FYM @ 10 t ha-1NPK is common for all the treatments. Combined soil application of biochar @ 10 t ha-1 and FYM @ 10 t ha-1 (T8) increased the leaf yield (13.07 t ha-1) by 21 % over control (10.45 t ha-1 Significantly higher soil primary, secondary and micronutrients were recorded in T8 (soil application of biochar @ 10 t ha-1 + FYM @ 10 t ha-1) followed by treatment T7 which received soil application of biochar @ 7.5 t ha-1 + FYM @ 10 t ha-1. The lower soil primary, secondary and micronutrients were recorded in T1 which is devoid of biochar. The findings revealed that utilization of mulberry stalk as a biochar has positive effect on the improvement of nutrient status and it could partly replace chemical fertilizers and promote organic farming in a circular economy concept.

The effectiveness of various biochar types in enhancing the phytoremediation of soils polluted with petroleum hydrocarbon

AbstractBackgroundBiochar can enhance phytoremediation in petroleum hydrocarbon polluted soils, making it an intriguing soil amendment option for remediating polluted soil. Biochar can improve the fertility of depleted soils through a range of mechanisms. This study can contribute valuable insights into the origin of biochar and enhance our understanding of the efficacy of different biochar types in remediating petroleum hydrocarbon polluted soils.AimsTo assess the efficacy of different biochar types and plant growth in remediating petroleum hydrocarbon polluted soils.MethodsA field experiment was conducted at the automobile workshop (commonly called mechanic village) from July to October 2021, using a randomized complete block design. The land was sectioned into designated plots with three replicates. Maize stalk biochar (MSB) and nipa palm biochar (NPB) were treated differently in each plot at a rate of 20 t ha−1. Plots containing no biochar were used as controls. Initial and final soil analyses were conducted.ResultsPreliminary soil assessments revealed higher values of soil bulk density (1.51 g cm−3), moisture content (35.02%), organic carbon (41.01 g kg−1), cation exchange capacity (13.27 cmol kg−1), total petroleum hydrocarbon content (PHCt) (775.83 mg kg−1), cadmium (Cd) (5.41 mg kg−1), chromium (Cr) (25 mg kg−1), lead (Pb) (33.51 mg kg−1), and zinc (Zn) (0.91 mg kg−1) in the polluted soil than in the unpolluted counterpart. The polluted soil displayed lower hydraulic conductivity (Ks) (1.17 cm h−1), available phosphorus (69.46 mg kg−1), manganese (Mn) (6.38 mg kg−1) and iron (Fe) (4.18 mg kg−1) contents than the unpolluted soil. The PHCt, Cd, and Cr were significantly decreased following the application of biochar. NPB recorded the lowest petroleum hydrocarbon (19%), lead (37%), manganese (57%), and zinc (69%) contents, whereas MSB had the lowest cadmium (50%) and chromium (27%) contents when compared with the control. Between heavy metal accumulations in the leaves and fruits, a greater accumulation of Cd, Cr, and Pb was found in the leaves, whereas Ni accumulation was found in the fruits. The highest Cd (47.0 mg kg−1) and Ni (8.3 mg kg−1) accumulations in the leaves were recorded in NPB treated plots. Similarly, Cd (5.3 mg kg−1), Cr (3.7 mg kg−1), Pb (21.6 mg kg−1), and Ni (23.4 mg kg−1) accumulation in the fruits recorded the highest values in the NPB treated plots. The NPB plants were the tallest compared with the other treatments. In addition, NPB plants had the widest leaf area compared with other treatments.ConclusionThe results indicated that the amendment of NPB may be suitable for the phytoremediation of soils polluted with petroleum hydrocarbons.

Inventarisasi Penyakit dan Analisis Pertanaman Jagung (Zea mays L.) dari Aplikasi Berbagai Jenis Biochar dan Pupuk Fosfor

Maize is a leading commodity for industrial materials and food suppliers. However, corn productivity is not maximized which is caused by several factors such as physical (climate and soil type), biology (pests, pathogens, weeds), and socio-economic factors of farmers. 25% of soil types in Indonesia are Ultisol which is characterized by low pH, available P, C-organic, and productivity. There are important maize diseases that may cause yield loss such as downy mildew, blight, rust, and midrib rot. Therefore, sustainable productivity improvements are required, specifically the application of biochar and phosphor. Biochar can increase pH, C-organic, available plant nutrients, and suppress several plant diseases. This research aimed to inventory important maize diseases, the effect of biochar, phosphor, and their interaction on disease severity and incidence, growth, production, soil pH, and C-organic. This research was designed in factorial Randomized Group Design with the factors biochar with four treatment levels included no biochar (B0), rice husk biochar (B2), corn cob biochar (B2), and cassava stalk biochar (B3) at a dose of 10 tons.ha-1 and phosphor with two treatments level included no phosphor (P0) and phosphor at a dose of 222.2 kg.ha-1 (P1). The results showed that there were four important diseases after application of biochar and phosphor, which are downy mildew (Peronisclerospora sp.), blight (Bipolaris maydis), southern corn rust (Puccinia polysora), and midrib rot (Fusarium spp.). Biochar corn cobs and cassava stems suppress the incidence of blight at 6th week. Biochars increase plant height, production, and soil pH. Interactions of biochar and phosphor increase plant stem diameter. Keywords: Biochar, Disease, Maize, Phosphor

High efficiency electricity and gas cogeneration through direct carbon solid oxide fuel cell with cotton stalk biochar

For the first time, biochar derived from a renewable resource, cotton stalk, is used as the feedstock of direct carbon solid oxides fuel cells (DC-SOFCs) for electricity and gas cogeneration. It turns out that the cotton stalk biochar has plenty of naturally grown K and Ca, which are active catalysts for the reverse Boudouard reaction in DC-SOFCs. This natural advantage of the cotton stalk biochar enables an extremely high power density of an anode-supported DC-SOFC at 850 °C, 0.9 W cm−2, which is the highest among those of the reported DC-SOFCs. Meanwhile, high concentration of CO gas, which is an important feedstock for chemical industry, is obtained from the DC-SOFCs. The energy conversion efficiency of the electricity-gas cogeneration of DC-SOFCs reaches over 70%. A novel method, using compressed char, is proposed and carried out for continuous supply of cotton stalk char to a DC-SOFC. The present work has demonstrated the feasibility and advantages of cogenerating electricity and gas through DC-SOFCs with biochar derived from cotton stalk as the feedstock.

Production and Analysis of Physical, Chemical and Physico-chemical Properties of Biochar from Various Feed Stock Sources

Biochar was derived from a range of biomass materials and its physical and physicochemical characteristics were assessed. Due to the pyrolysis of various biomass products, such as grass, cotton stalks, coconut husk, coconut shell, paddy straw, rice husk, Eichhornia, sugarcane bagasse, and neem wood in the pyrolysis unit. The biochars' characteristics were extremely diverse. Prosopis is superior to other biochars in terms of pore space, pH, EC, CEC, organic C, total N, Mg, available nutrients, and carbon fractions, as evidenced by the large amount of biochar that was recovered from it.&#x0D; Prosopis wood biochar, which can function as a soil enhancer and improve the physical properties of the soil, is superior than cotton stalk biochar and drymatter biomass biochars. It can also increase nutrient availability and retention. Given its higher recovery and diffusion, Prosopis' resource can be used. As a result of the substantial differences between the various biomass, characterizing biochar made from each one is necessary before mass producing it for agricultural application.

Optimization and Deep Learning Modeling of the Yield and Properties of Baobab-Derived Biodiesel Catalyzed by Waste Banana Bunch Stalk Biochar.

The integration of optimization techniques and deep learning models, which offer a promising avenue for improving the efficiency and sustainability of biodiesel production processes from baobab seed oil (BSO), is rare. This study utilized a multi-input-multioutput (MIMO) deep learning technique and the most recent central composite design (CCD) optimization tool to model and optimize the yield and properties of biodiesel produced from BSO. First, the baobab seed oil was extracted using a solvent extraction method. BSO was subsequently analyzed and converted to biodiesel by reacting CH3OH catalyzed by waste banana bunch stalk biochar activated by KOH. Multiobjective optimization and prediction of the biodiesel yield (Y) and several key fuel properties, including the cetane number (CN), kinematic viscosity (VS), and purity (P), were achieved. With better correlation coefficients of 0.9709, 0.9464, and 0.9714 for response training, response testing, and response validation, respectively, and a root-mean-square error of 0.00755, the MIMO model on the logsig transfer function accurately predicted the biodiesel yield and properties more than did the MISO and response surface methodology models. The optimum Y (96 wt %), CN (48), VS (3.3 mm2/s), and P (98.3%) were concurrently accomplished at a reaction temperature of 56 °C, a reaction time of 115 min, a CH3OH/BSO molar ratio of 15:1, a catalyst dosage of 6 wt %, and a stirring speed of 400 rpm with 98% optimal validation accuracy. CCD sensitivity analysis revealed that the CH3OH/BSO ratio was the most sensitive (50.9%) input predictor among the other input variables studied.

Effectiveness of Canna indica leaves and stalk biochar in the treatment of textile effluent

Textile effluents often include water polluted with heavy metals, organic and inorganic contaminants, and different colors. It is not practical to remove these pollutants from the water. A variety of methods, including ozone, adsorption, membrane separation, biosorption, biodegradation, electrochemical degradation, and UV radiation, might be used in the water treatment procedure. Biochar made from Canna indica leaves and stems was used to remediate textile industry wastewater, which included color and chemical oxygen demand (COD). By using an absorption technique, the biochar was created by roasting the material at 500 °C, which removed the color and COD from the wastewater. The batches were subjected to many variations in temperature, concentration, and dose of biochar throughout the testing phase. Canna leaves have been shown to be effective in reducing COD at doses between one and 1.5 gm. COD levels were reduced by 83%, and color was reduced by around 94%. On the other hand, while keeping a constant dose, it was shown that canna stalks showed noteworthy effectiveness in lowering COD levels, with a range of 33%–48%. When it comes to eliminating color and COD, the leaves of the canna plant show more specificity than those of other plant species. The Jovanovich isotherm showed a good association with the biochar made from Canna indica leaves, according to the examination of the isotherm computation.