Open AccessPREPARATION, CHARACTERIZATION OF BIOCHAR FOR A SUSTAINABLE SOIL HEALTH
Author(s) -
A. K. Rekha,
A. Vidhya
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
international journal on environmental sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 0976-4534
DOI - 10.53390/ijes.v12i1.6
Subject(s) - biochar , slash and char , amendment , pyrolysis , raw material , cation exchange capacity , environmental science , soil conditioner , soil water , carbon sequestration , soil fertility , soil quality , environmental chemistry , soil ph , waste management , chemistry , soil science , carbon dioxide , organic chemistry , political science , law , engineering
Recent research suggests that biochar is a promising approach to minimize soil contamination caused by heavy metals and organic pollutants. It is also involved in the amendment of soil by altering the nutrients, pH and other factors. Through intensive literature review, this paper was aimed to better understand the selection of feedstock processes, preparation, and characterization of biochar. Wide variety of feedstock used for the biochar production based on the cost effectiveness, ease availability and they are ecofriendly to the environment. Among the thermochemical processes, pyrolysis is the promising techniques followed for the production of BC. The stabilization efficacy was mainly determined by cation exchange capacity, pH, and ash content of the biochar. The physicochemical characteristic of the biochar is analyzed using various methods such as SEM, FTIR, TGA and BET analysis. The surface area plays a major role in the metal sorption. The quality characteristics of biochar as a soil amendment varied greatly with the feedstock materials and the pyrolysis conditions. Biochar plays a great role in increasing the pH which helps the acidic soil region and its high-water retention capacity enhance the moisture level in the soil which enhances the microbial communities and its activity. Biochar becomes stabilized in the soil by interacting with soil particles. The inherent characteristics of the biochar as dictated by feedstock and pyrolysis conditions, interact with climatic conditions such as precipitation and temperature to influence how long biochar carbon remains stored in the soil. Due to its carbon sequestration in the soil, it helps in increasing the fertility of the soil and also enhances the crop yield.