Converting plastic-contaminated agricultural residues into fit-for-purpose biochar soil amendment: an initial study

Abstract Addressing agricultural plastic pollution is vital for ecosystem sustainability. Shifting from traditional waste treatments to a sustainable pathway presents both challenges and opportunities for global plastic management. This study investigated the properties and environmental application...

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Main Authors: Qiuyu Yu, Xuhui Zhang, Tao Gao, Xueliu Gong, Jiarong Wu, Shuai Tian, Biao Ma, Lujiang Xu, Stephen Joseph, Jufeng Zheng, Rongjun Bian, Lianqing Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer 2024-11-01
Series:Biochar
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1007/s42773-024-00382-7
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author Qiuyu Yu
Xuhui Zhang
Tao Gao
Xueliu Gong
Jiarong Wu
Shuai Tian
Biao Ma
Lujiang Xu
Stephen Joseph
Jufeng Zheng
Rongjun Bian
Lianqing Li
author_facet Qiuyu Yu
Xuhui Zhang
Tao Gao
Xueliu Gong
Jiarong Wu
Shuai Tian
Biao Ma
Lujiang Xu
Stephen Joseph
Jufeng Zheng
Rongjun Bian
Lianqing Li
author_sort Qiuyu Yu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Addressing agricultural plastic pollution is vital for ecosystem sustainability. Shifting from traditional waste treatments to a sustainable pathway presents both challenges and opportunities for global plastic management. This study investigated the properties and environmental applications of biochar derived from honeydew melon vines contaminated with plastic hanging ropes, pyrolyzed at temperatures of 300, 500, and 700 °C. The resulting biochars were evaluated for their ability to remove Pb and Cd from aqueous solutions. Additionally, a Chinese cabbage pot experiment was conducted to assess the impact of biochar on Pb and Cd immobilization and plant growth in contaminated soil. Results revealed that the properties of biochar varied with pyrolysis temperature. Specifically, incomplete carbonization of plastic ropes was observed at 300 °C, while biochar produced at 500 °C (BC500) showed a higher yield and contained higher levels of available P and K compared to the biochar produced at 700 °C (BC700). The presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in biochars increased with temperature but remained within recommended limits. BC500 exhibited the highest adsorption capacities for Pb and Cd at 127 mg g−1 and 36 mg g−1, respectively. Soil amendment with BC500 and BC700 significantly improved soil pH, increased the availability of nutrients and microbial biomass, and effectively immobilized Pb and Cd in the soil. Consequently, the biomass yield of Chinese cabbage was enhanced by 119 % and 86 % under BC500 and BC700, respectively. Moreover, the Pb and Cd content in cabbage decreased by more than 80 % and 29 %, respectively. However, PAHs levels in cabbage leaves increased from 9.2 ng g−1 in the control to 20.8 ng g−1 and 30.4 ng g−1 under BC500 and BC700, respectively, remaining below China’s standard for benzo(a)pyrene. This study suggests pyrolyzing plastic-contaminated crop residues at 500 °C is a feasible strategy for waste recycling. Graphical Abstract
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publishDate 2024-11-01
publisher Springer
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series Biochar
spelling doaj-art-b3dd212829e34f74b0f4b814c9c0eba62024-11-24T12:37:29ZengSpringerBiochar2524-78672024-11-016111910.1007/s42773-024-00382-7Converting plastic-contaminated agricultural residues into fit-for-purpose biochar soil amendment: an initial studyQiuyu Yu0Xuhui Zhang1Tao Gao2Xueliu Gong3Jiarong Wu4Shuai Tian5Biao Ma6Lujiang Xu7Stephen Joseph8Jufeng Zheng9Rongjun Bian10Lianqing Li11Institute of Resources, Ecosystem and Environment of Agriculture, Nanjing Agricultural UniversityInstitute of Resources, Ecosystem and Environment of Agriculture, Nanjing Agricultural UniversityInstitute of Food Safety and Nutrition, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural SciencesInstitute of Resources, Ecosystem and Environment of Agriculture, Nanjing Agricultural UniversityInstitute of Resources, Ecosystem and Environment of Agriculture, Nanjing Agricultural UniversityInstitute of Resources, Ecosystem and Environment of Agriculture, Nanjing Agricultural UniversityInstitute of Resources, Ecosystem and Environment of Agriculture, Nanjing Agricultural UniversityBiomass Group, College of Engineering, Nanjing Agricultural UniversityInstitute of Resources, Ecosystem and Environment of Agriculture, Nanjing Agricultural UniversityInstitute of Resources, Ecosystem and Environment of Agriculture, Nanjing Agricultural UniversityInstitute of Resources, Ecosystem and Environment of Agriculture, Nanjing Agricultural UniversityInstitute of Resources, Ecosystem and Environment of Agriculture, Nanjing Agricultural UniversityAbstract Addressing agricultural plastic pollution is vital for ecosystem sustainability. Shifting from traditional waste treatments to a sustainable pathway presents both challenges and opportunities for global plastic management. This study investigated the properties and environmental applications of biochar derived from honeydew melon vines contaminated with plastic hanging ropes, pyrolyzed at temperatures of 300, 500, and 700 °C. The resulting biochars were evaluated for their ability to remove Pb and Cd from aqueous solutions. Additionally, a Chinese cabbage pot experiment was conducted to assess the impact of biochar on Pb and Cd immobilization and plant growth in contaminated soil. Results revealed that the properties of biochar varied with pyrolysis temperature. Specifically, incomplete carbonization of plastic ropes was observed at 300 °C, while biochar produced at 500 °C (BC500) showed a higher yield and contained higher levels of available P and K compared to the biochar produced at 700 °C (BC700). The presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in biochars increased with temperature but remained within recommended limits. BC500 exhibited the highest adsorption capacities for Pb and Cd at 127 mg g−1 and 36 mg g−1, respectively. Soil amendment with BC500 and BC700 significantly improved soil pH, increased the availability of nutrients and microbial biomass, and effectively immobilized Pb and Cd in the soil. Consequently, the biomass yield of Chinese cabbage was enhanced by 119 % and 86 % under BC500 and BC700, respectively. Moreover, the Pb and Cd content in cabbage decreased by more than 80 % and 29 %, respectively. However, PAHs levels in cabbage leaves increased from 9.2 ng g−1 in the control to 20.8 ng g−1 and 30.4 ng g−1 under BC500 and BC700, respectively, remaining below China’s standard for benzo(a)pyrene. This study suggests pyrolyzing plastic-contaminated crop residues at 500 °C is a feasible strategy for waste recycling. Graphical Abstracthttps://doi.org/10.1007/s42773-024-00382-7Agricultural plastic wasteCrop residuesBiocharSoil amendment
spellingShingle Qiuyu Yu
Xuhui Zhang
Tao Gao
Xueliu Gong
Jiarong Wu
Shuai Tian
Biao Ma
Lujiang Xu
Stephen Joseph
Jufeng Zheng
Rongjun Bian
Lianqing Li
Converting plastic-contaminated agricultural residues into fit-for-purpose biochar soil amendment: an initial study
Biochar
Agricultural plastic waste
Crop residues
Biochar
Soil amendment
title Converting plastic-contaminated agricultural residues into fit-for-purpose biochar soil amendment: an initial study
title_full Converting plastic-contaminated agricultural residues into fit-for-purpose biochar soil amendment: an initial study
title_fullStr Converting plastic-contaminated agricultural residues into fit-for-purpose biochar soil amendment: an initial study
title_full_unstemmed Converting plastic-contaminated agricultural residues into fit-for-purpose biochar soil amendment: an initial study
title_short Converting plastic-contaminated agricultural residues into fit-for-purpose biochar soil amendment: an initial study
title_sort converting plastic contaminated agricultural residues into fit for purpose biochar soil amendment an initial study
topic Agricultural plastic waste
Crop residues
Biochar
Soil amendment
url https://doi.org/10.1007/s42773-024-00382-7
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