Application of a full‐scale wood gasification biochar as a soil improver to reduce organic pollutant leaching risks

BACKGROUND The application of biochar to sandy loam soil to reduce leaching of three representative pollutants (a persistent hydrocarbon (phenanthrene; logKOW 4.46), a herbicide (isoproturon; logKOW 2.50), and an antibiotic (sulfamethazine; logKOW 0.28)) were investigated. The wood‐derived biochar e...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of chemical technology and biotechnology (1986) 2017-08, Vol.92 (8), p.1928-1937
Main Authors: Trinh, Bao‐Son, Werner, David, Reid, Brian J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Antibiotics
char
Charcoal
Cogeneration
diffusion
Electric power generation
Electric power plants
Feeding
Flow rates
Flow velocity
Fouling
Gasification
Hydrophobicity
Isoproturon
Leaching
Loam
Loam soils
mass transfer
Mathematical analysis
Mathematical models
modelling
Organic soils
persistant organic pollutants (POPs)
Phenanthrene
Pollutants
Pollution dispersion
Pore water
Power plants
Sandy loam
Sandy soils
Sediment pollution
Soil pollution
Soils
Sorption
Sulfamethazine
Wood
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Summary:BACKGROUND The application of biochar to sandy loam soil to reduce leaching of three representative pollutants (a persistent hydrocarbon (phenanthrene; logKOW 4.46), a herbicide (isoproturon; logKOW 2.50), and an antibiotic (sulfamethazine; logKOW 0.28)) were investigated. The wood‐derived biochar evaluated in our laboratory study was the solid co‐product of a full‐scale gasifier feeding a combined heat and power plant. The research aimed to demonstrate multiple environmental benefits with the innovative use of this biochar as a soil improver. RESULTS Batch sorption experiments indicated that 5% biochar added to soil enhanced the partitioning coefficient (Kd) by factors of 2 for phenanthrene and 20 for both sulfamethazine and isoproturon. Column leaching experiments indicated a reduced porewater flow rate, up to 80% slower in the column amended with 5% biochar, and reduced pollutant leaching risks. Numerical models interlinked batch and column study observations. CONCLUSION (i) Biochar enhanced sorption for the hydrophobic pollutant phenanthrene, and also the less hydrophobic pollutants sulfamethazine and isoproturon; (ii) reduced porewater flow rates following biochar amendment gave rise to greater opportunity for pollutant–solid interaction; (iii) mixing with soil resulted in biochar fouling affecting pollutant partition; and (iv) irreversible retention of pollutants by the soil was an important mechanism affecting pollutant transport. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry
ISSN:0268-2575
1097-4660
DOI:10.1002/jctb.5219