Co-composting of biochar and nitrogen-poor organic residues: Nitrogen losses and fate of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
Por:
Gustavo Adolfo, Gutierrez-Fernandez, Wolf-Anno, Bischoff, Martin, Ricker, Christina, Siebe
Publicada:
15 abr 2022
Categoría:
Waste management and disposal
Resumen:
Composting recycles nutrients and biodegrades organic pollutants, but
often results in N leaching. Biochar can enhance the composting process
and reduce N losses. Research, however, has focused on composting N-rich
residues; also, information on the fate of biochar polycyclic aromatic
hydrocarbons (PAHs) during composting is scarce. We explored the
composting of biochar with N-poor organic residues as a strategy to
reduce N losses and biochar PAHs. A small-scale composting experiment
was performed with three treatments: 100% yard residues and two
mixtures of 85% yard residues and 15% gasification-or
pyrolysis-derived biochar. Temperatures were recorded daily during
composting and N losses and changes in PAHs loads were calculated.
Results across all treatments showed overall low N losses, likely caused
by low temperatures and N contents, circumneutral pH values, and absence
of leachate, and simultaneous immobilization and mineralization of PAH
contents. Treatments with biochar showed a slower release of inorganic N
(NO3-N and NH4+-N), although they also had overall lower inorganic N
contents. This slower release of inorganic N may relate to biochar's
high surface area. We conclude that biochar provides valuable benefits
for N-poor composting, and that composting should be further explored as
a promising strategy to reduce the contents of PAHs in biochar.
Filiaciones:
Gustavo Adolfo, Gutierrez-Fernandez:
Instituto de Geología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Av. Universidad 3000, Coyoacán, Ciudad de México, 04510, Mexico
Wolf-Anno, Bischoff:
TerrAquat Ltd., Schellingstr. 43, Nürtingen, D-72622, Germany
Martin, Ricker:
Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Ciudad de México, 04510, Mexico
Christina, Siebe:
Instituto de Geología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Av. Universidad 3000, Coyoacán, Ciudad de México, 04510, Mexico
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