title: Multiscale visualization of the structural and characteristic changes of sewage sludge biochar oriented towards potential agronomic and environmental implication.
abstract: Sewage sludge biochars were obtained at different pyrolysis temperatures from 300°C to 900°C and their macro- and microscale properties were analyzed. The biochar's plant-available nutrients and humus-like substances in the water-extractable phase and fixed nutrients in the solid fraction were evaluated for their potential agronomic implications. FT-IR, Raman, XRD, XPS, and SEM techniques were used to investigate the chemical structure, functional groups, and microcrystal structure on the surface of the biochar. The results revealed minor chemical changes and dramatic mass loss in the biochar obtained at 300-500°C, whereas significant chemical changes in the biochar were obtained at 600-900°C. The concentrations of plant-available nutrients as well as fulvic- and humic-acid-like materials decreased in the biochar samples obtained at higher temperatures. These results implied that the biochar samples pyrolyzed at 300-500°C could be a direct nutrient source and used to neutralize alkaline soil. The surface area and porosity of the biochar samples increased with temperature, which increased their adsorption capacity. Rearrangement occurred at higher temperature 600-900°C, resulting in the biochar becoming increasingly polyaromatic and its graphite-like carbon becoming organized.
authors: 1] State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China [2] Institute of Waste Treatment and Reclamation, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China.
authors: Jining
authors: J
authors: Zhang
authors: State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China.
authors: Fan
authors: F
authors: Lü
authors: 1] State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China [2] Institute of Waste Treatment and Reclamation, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China.
authors: Hua
authors: H
authors: Zhang
authors: 1] Institute of Waste Treatment and Reclamation, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China [2] Centre for the Technology Research and Training on Household Waste in Small Towns &Rural Area, Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of P.R.China (MOHURD), Shanghai 200092, China.
authors: Liming
authors: L
authors: Shao
authors: Thermal and Environmental Engineering Institute, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China.
authors: Dezhen
authors: D
authors: Chen
authors: 1] Institute of Waste Treatment and Reclamation, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China [2] Centre for the Technology Research and Training on Household Waste in Small Towns &Rural Area, Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of P.R.China (MOHURD), Shanghai 200092, China.
authors: Pinjing
authors: P
authors: He
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D016573:Agrochemicals / Q000032:analysis*; D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D002606:Charcoal / Q000737:chemistry*; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D006812:Humic Substances / Q000032:analysis*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D016062:Porosity; D012722:Sewage / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D016573:Agrochemicals; D006812:Humic Substances; D012722:Sewage; C540010:biochar; D002606:Charcoal; D002244:Carbon