1. Variation in Feedstock Wood Chemistry Strongly Influences Biochar Liming Potential
- Author
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Sossina Gezahegn, Mohini Sain, and Sean C. Thomas
- Subjects
acidic groups ,cations ,char ,pH ,pyrolysis ,Physical geography ,GB3-5030 ,Chemistry ,QD1-999 - Abstract
Chars intended for use as soil amendment (“biochars„) vary greatly in their chemical and physical properties. In the present study, 19 Canadian temperate wood feedstocks were charred across a range of pyrolysis temperatures from 300–700 °C. The resulting 95 biochars were tested for their physio-chemical properties and liming capacity. Data indicated increasing base cation concentrations including Ca, Mg, and K (elements that characteristically form liming compounds, i.e., carbonates) as pyrolysis temperature increased. Acidic surface functional groups were analyzed with modified Boehm titration: Carboxylic and lactonic functional group concentrations decreased and phenolic group concentration increased with pyrolysis temperature. Functional group composition also varied greatly with feedstock: In particular, conifer-derived biochars produced at pyrolysis temperatures
- Published
- 2019
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