Activated Biochar

About

Biochar is known to be a potential adsorbent material in treating nutrient rich or polluted waters. The biochar’s ability to retain nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorous from agricultural waters was assessed by performing sorption experiments in the laboratory by Alchemia Nova and Technical Research Centre of Finland. Two distinct biochars were tested. Biochar 1 (B1) is produced by Sonnenerde GmbH from residuals of grain husks, fruit sludge and wood, and is milled down to a grain size of 0-0.2 mm. Biochar 2 (B2) is produced by Charline GmbH from wood and available at a grain size of 0-2 mm. The biochars were tested in the original, commercially available state and as well activated by water vapour. The biochars were added to separate solutions of ammonium, nitrate and phosphorous. The amount of nutrients that can be adsorbed by the char was calculated by measuring the concentration of the solution before and after biochar addition.

Direct benefits of the application are the possibility to apply activated biochar to the field, thus reducing the need for artificial fertilizer, reducing nitrogen leaching and increasing the amount of carbon in the soil and thus the soil structure. Moreover, adsorption capacities for phosphate can be enhanced effectively by chemical modification methods (e.g. doping with iron oxide) to strengthen its surface properties.

See more photos on

Developed by

Alchemia Nova and Technical Research Centre of Finland

Contact

Eriona Canga
eriona.canga@alchemia-nova.net
Mona Arnold
mona.arnold@vtt.fi

Solution Test Progress

Biochar was activated at Technical Research Centre of Finland and its nutrient retaining capacity was assessed with spiked water and compared to the capacity of non-treated biochar. The capacity was further tested and optimized with water from selected case studies. The use of nutrient loaded char as a fertilizer was assessed. The release of nutrients for plant uptake in soil was evaluated by Bay Zoltán Nonprofit Ltd for Applied Research, who assessed the efficiency of the nutrient-saturated biochar as a fertilizer by laboratory-scale cultivation tests. The nutrients nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in the soil and plants was also analyzed. Furthermore, Alchemia Nova and Alma Mater Studiorum – University of Bologna tested biochar in selected drainage systems. Alchemia Nova tested a nutrient loading technique on biochar at small scale. An application process was evaluated with two biochar producers.

 

Publications

  • Assessment of Biochar for Nutrient Retention, Practice Abstract
Back to top of page