Summary
This laboratory investigation examined how pristine and engineered biochars can recover plant nutrients from wastewater through adsorption, with desorption—the mechanism controlling nutrient availability—shown to be strongly pH-dependent. The findings suggest that biochar-based fertilisers derived from waste feedstocks offer potential economic and agronomic benefits whilst reducing the energy costs associated with conventional pyrolysis.
UK applicability
The findings are potentially relevant to UK soil management and circular economy initiatives, particularly for wastewater treatment and nutrient recycling in agriculture. However, field validation under UK climate and soil conditions would be necessary to establish practical applicability.
Key measures
Biochar adsorption and desorption capacity for plant macro- and micronutrients; pH-dependent nutrient release mechanisms
Outcomes reported
The study characterized adsorption capacity of pristine and engineered biochars for nutrient recovery from wastewater, and identified pH-dependent desorption mechanisms governing nutrient release.
Topic tags
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