Leônidas Carrijo Azevedo Melo

Biochar application to a contaminated soil reduces the availability and plant uptake of zinc, lead and cadmium.

Heavy metals in soil are naturally occurring but may be enhanced by anthropogenic activities such as mining. Bio-accumulation of heavy metals in the food chain, following their uptake to plants can increase the ecotoxicological risks associated with remediation of contaminated soils using plants. In the current experiment sugar cane straw-derived biochar (BC), produced at 700 °C, was applied to a heavy metal contaminated mine soil at 1.5%, 3.0% and 5.0% (w/w). Jack bean (Canavalia ensiformis) and Mucuna aterrima were grown in pots containing soil and biochar mixtures, and control pots without biochar. Pore water was sampled from each pot to confirm the effects of biochar on metal solubility, whilst soils were analyzed by DTPA extraction to confirm available metal concentrations. Leaves were sampled for SEM analysis to detect possible morphological and anatomical changes. The application of BC decreased the available concentrations of Cd, Pb and Zn in 56, 50 and 54% respectively, in the mine contaminated soil leading to a consistent reduction in the concentration of Zn in the pore water (1st collect: 99 to 39 μg L(-1), 2nd: 97 to 57 μg L(-1) and 3rd: 71 to 12 μg L(-1)). The application of BC reduced the uptake of Cd, Pb and Zn by plants with the jack bean translocating high proportions of metals (especially Cd) to shoots. Metals were also taken up by Mucuna aterrima but translocation to shoot was more limited than for jack bean. There were no differences in the internal structures of leaves observed by scanning electron microscopy. This study indicates that biochar application during mine soil remediation reduce plant concentrations of potential toxic metals.

Sorption and desorption of cadmium and zinc in two tropical soils amended with sugarcane-straw-derived biochar

PurposeBiochars may enhance the retention capacity of metals in soils, especially in highly weathered tropical soil whose low cation exchange capacity renders heavy metals mobile, and thus be able to leach from soils. We evaluated the effect of sugarcane-straw-derived biochar on sorption and desorption of Cd(II) and Zn(II) in two tropical soils in particular to distinguish primary and secondary mechanisms of metal retention.Material and methodsTo test the efficiency of biochar to retain heavy metals, sugarcane-straw-derived biochar was mixed with a clayey Oxisol and an Entisol both from the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil, in batch testing to obtain sorption-desorption isotherms of Cd(II) and Zn(II) and measure the release/displacement of cations (Ca2+ and Mg2+) or precipitation with phosphate during the sorption process.Results and discussionBiochar increased the sorption (including adsorption and precipitation) of both metals in both soils but that most sorption reactions were reversible under buffer acidic conditions, due to dissolution of precipitates in low pH values (<4.9). Exchange of Cd or Zn with Ca and Mg from the biochar was found to play a minor role on the retention mechanism, whereas surface precipitation (mainly in the Entisol) of the metals (e.g. with phosphate) was likely to be the main sorption mechanism.ConclusionsApplication of sugarcane-straw-derived biochar to heavy-metal-contaminated tropical soils seems justified because of its sorptive capacity for Cd and Zn. However, binding reactions on surfaces were reversible, mainly for Cd(II), resulting in the likelihood that repeat applications of biochar would be required to maintain reduced soil solution concentrations of Cd and Zn over time, thus avoiding phytotoxicity and associated environmental risks.

Influência de métodos de digestão e massa de amostra na recuperação de nutrientes em resíduos orgânicos

The influence of nitric-perchloric, aqua regia, dry ashing and microwave digestion methods, in combination with 100 and 200 mg of sample, on the characterization and recovery of nutrients in samples of sludge sewage, poultry, swine, quail and bovine manures, organic compost, organic substrate and humic material were studied. Nitric-perchloric digestion with 200 mg samples recovered the higher nutrient contents. The nitric-perchloric method recovered also low levels of K. Dry ashing caused S volatilization and microwave digestion produced dark color extracts and this impaired S determination. Aqua regia recovered the lowest contents of nutrients in the organic residues evaluated.

Properties of biochar derived from wood and high-nutrient biomasses with the aim of agronomic and environmental benefits

Biochar production and use are part of the modern agenda to recycle wastes, and to retain nutrients, pollutants, and heavy metals in the soil and to offset some greenhouse gas emissions. Biochars from wood (eucalyptus sawdust, pine bark), sugarcane bagasse, and substances rich in nutrients (coffee husk, chicken manure) produced at 350, 450 and 750°C were characterized to identify agronomic and environmental benefits, which may enhance soil quality. Biochars derived from wood and sugarcane have greater potential for improving C storage in tropical soils due to a higher aromatic character, high C concentration, low H/C ratio, and FTIR spectra features as compared to nutrient-rich biochars. The high ash content associated with alkaline chemical species such as KHCO3 and CaCO3, verified by XRD analysis, made chicken manure and coffee husk biochars potential liming agents for remediating acidic soils. High Ca and K contents in chicken manure and coffee husk biomass can significantly replace conventional sources of K (mostly imported in Brazil) and Ca, suggesting a high agronomic value for these biochars. High-ash biochars, such as chicken manure and coffee husk, produced at low-temperatures (350 and 450°C) exhibited high CEC values, which can be considered as a potential applicable material to increase nutrient retention in soil. Therefore, the agronomic value of the biochars in this study is predominantly regulated by the nutrient richness of the biomass, but an increase in pyrolysis temperature to 750°C can strongly decrease the adsorptive capacities of chicken manure and coffee husk biochars. A diagram of the agronomic potential and environmental benefits is presented, along with some guidelines to relate biochar properties with potential agronomic and environmental uses. Based on biochar properties, research needs are identified and directions for future trials are delineated.

Distribuição espacial de fósforo em Latossolo tratado com lodo de esgoto e adubação mineral

In agricultural soils receiving sewage sludge and subjected to water erosion, may occur intense transport of phosphorus (P) to the lower parts of the landscape and eventually to water bodies. The objective of this study was to evaluate the spatial distribution of P in an Oxisol cultivated with maize. The treatments were evaluated with application of mineral fertilization (MF) and sewage sludge (SS). Soil samples were collected following a sampling grid of 69 points in each treatment at the beginning and at the end of the crop cycle, in an experimental area with 10% slope. There was a moderate spatial dependence of P in the soil in the treatment of MF, resulting in higher concentrations of P in the deeper layers of the soil caused by erosion. The same standard was observed for the soil attributes sum of bases, cation exchange capacity and soil organic matter. Conversely, when SS was applied there was a randomized distribution of P in the plots because of the non-uniform manner of its application. Such random distribution of P showed correlation with soil organic matter.

Agronomic efficiency of phosphate fertilizers produced by the re-use of a metallurgical acid residue

The production of fertilizers with industrial wastes reduces the environmental impacts of waste disposal and improves environmental sustainability by generating added-value products. Our objective with this study was to evaluate the agronomic performance and potential soil/plant contamination with heavy metals of alternative phosphate (P) fertilizers, obtained from the acidulation of phosphate rocks (PR) by a metallurgical acidic waste. Seven P fertilizers were evaluated: three PR (Araxá, Patos, and Bayóvar), their respective acidulated products (PAPR), and triple superphosphate fertilizer (TSP). A greenhouse trial was carried out to test the agronomic performances of fertilizers in a sequentially cultivated maize-soybean-white oat. The reaction of PR with acid waste was effective to increase their solubility and improve plant yield and P uptake compared to their natural PR. There was a cumulative recovery by plants of 1.4 and 8.1% of added P via PR and PAPR, respectively. No increase in heavy metal (Cd, Pb, Cr, and Ni) availability in soil or accumulation in shoots was observed, indicating that the PAPR were environmentally safe. The usage of acid waste to produce P fertilizers therefore represents a strategic way to employ marginal products for the production of fertilizers.

Produtividade do cafeeiro e atributos de fertilidade de latossolo sob influência de adensamento da lavoura e manejo da calagem

Com este estudo, teve-se por objetivo avaliar os efeitos de densidades de plantio e de manejo da calagem sobre os atributos de fertilidade de Latossolo e sobre o estado nutricional e produtividade do cafeeiro (Coffea arabica L.). O estudo foi conduzido de fevereiro de 2000 a junho de 2003 na Fazenda Experimental da EPAMIG, em Sao Sebastiao do Paraiso (MG). Os tratamentos testados consistiram da combinacao de duas densidades populacionais (2.857 e 10.000 plantas ha-1) com tres metodos de manejo de calagem (sem aplicacao de calcario; calagem superficial e incorporacao de calcario de 0 a 20 cm), alem de um tratamento com aplicacao de calcario (0 a 20 cm) e gesso. O solo foi amostrado nas camadas de 0 a 10, 10 a 20 e 20 a 40 cm de profundidade, em quatro epocas de amostragem, sendo realizadas as seguintes determinacoes analiticas: pH, Ca e Mg trocaveis, P (Mehlich-1), sulfato, nitrato e amonio, alem da saturacao por bases. Os metodos de manejo da calagem reduziram a acidez na camada de solo de 0 a 10 cm; contudo, somente na quarta amostragem foi verificada movimentacao no perfil de solo do calcario aplicado em superficie. Os atributos de fertilidade do Latossolo nao foram influenciados pelos sistemas de plantio de cafeeiro. O adensamento da lavoura resultou em um acrescimo medio na produtividade de cafeeiro de 14 e 33 sacas ha-1, respectivamente, para a 1a e 2a colheitas.

Characterization of biochars from different sources and evaluation of release of nutrients and contaminants

The biochar, product of pyrolysis of organic waste, has been used as a soil conditioner and alternative on solid waste management. However, the raw material and pyrolysis temperature used influence the quantity and dynamics of release of nutrients and contaminants from the biochar. The objective wasto evaluate the use of waste sugarcane bagasse, eucalyptus and sewage sludge for production of biochar and determine the chemical, physical, mineralogical properties and acid extraction of these materials produced at 350 °C and 500 °C. Were evaluated the proportion of C, H, N, O; ashes; macro and micronutrients, plus some contaminants; characterization of mineral phases by diffractometry of X- rays; functional groups by infrared absorption spectroscopy (FTIR). Moreover, it was determined the release of nutrients and contaminants for the extraction in increasing concentration of HNO3 (0,01 - 2,0 mol L-1). The O/C and H/C relations decreased with increasing temperature of pyrolysis, which define a greater stability of the C of biochars. Sewage sludge biochar (BC-L) had the highest nutrient release rates and contaminant metals (Cd, Cr, Ni and Pb). Acid extraction of other biocarvoes was very low (<20% of the total content). The results indicate that the carbon fraction of biochar contributes to the low rateof release of the elements in acid place.