SDSU Biochar Projects Presentation
Content
SDSU Biochar Projects
INTERACTIONS OF BIOCHAR SOURCE/PROPERTIES IMPACTS ON SOIL PROPERTIES, C SEQUESTRATION POTENTIAL, AND CROP MANAGEMENT
D.D. Malo and S.A. Clay (project leaders), T.E. Schumacher, H.J. Woodard, D.E. Clay, and R.H. Gelderman, SDSU Plant Science Department; and H. Lei and J.L. Julson, SDSU Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Department
Development of an interactive input/output process and cost model with consideration of impacts of the end use of the biochar on the carbon status of the fuels or products made in the thermal chemical conversion process
V. Kelley, J. Julson, K. Muthukumarappan SDSU Agriculture and Biosystems Engineering Dept S.A. Clay SDSU Plant Science Dept G. Warmann SDSU Economics Dept H. Lei Washington State University
Others involved in project
Research Associates:
Steph Hansen Carrie Werkmeister Bev Klein
Undergraduate training
Mitch Olson Kaitlynn Krack Dan Clay Susie Rodriguez
Introduction Materials Methods Results Future research
Biochar
Co-product of pyrolysis,
an incineration method to gain energy (or ethanol) from organic materials under low or zero oxygen environments Many different starting materials including
Wood Corn stover switchgrass
The end-product is typically a fine-grained, highly porous charcoal
Why land spread biochar?
disposal method reuse nutrients remaining in biochar for carbon sequestration other uses?
Soil characteristics or processes that may be affected by biochar addition
Recent studies have focused on using biochar as nutrient sources Few studies have examined how biochar may influence or interact with other soil processes including:
Soil water holding capacity and release Soil warming Soil microbial activity pH and EC (salt content) Herbicide sorption
SDSU AG and Biosystems Engineering Dept. Task 1: Conversion process data collection- Year 1 Work collection-
Assembled a microwave- aided pyrolysis process. microwaveCompleted pyrolysis of woodchips, switchgrass and corn stover samples- based on a central samplescomposite experimental design. Source of biochar for herbicide sorption studies.
Objective
Determine the
pH and EC of biochar produced from various materials and conditions herbicide sorption characteristics of biochar alone
Determine the influence of biochar amendments on
soil pH soil EC soil microbial communities herbicide sorption
Materials
Biochar from three sources
Switchgrass Corn Stover
Corn stover and switchgrass were processed by SDSU Ag and Biosystems Engineering (Dr. J. Julson and Dr. H. Lei) Temperatures used were 550, 600, or 650 C Processing time 8 to 25 minutes 9 samples of each material
Wood ash [obtained from CVec Plant (Benson, MN)]
CVEC Plant* (Benson, MN)
* Chippewa Valley Ethanol Company - Source of wood bioash/biochar used in initial parts of project
Low temperature (550 C)
High temperature (650 C)
Increasing time
Low temperature (550 C)
High temperature (650 C)
Increasing time
Corn stover biochar image from Scanning Electron Microscope (HITACHI S-3000N), operated at 10 kV with pyrolysis condition at 550°C; The size of the hollow area was around 2-10 µm.
Microbial Studies Initiated
Denaturing Gradient Gel electrophoresis (DGGE). Three soils and two different levels of biochar additions were established and are being incubated. At selected times samples are taken and DGGE and fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis (FDA) tests will be run to determine if changes in soil microbial community occur as a result of biochar/bioash additions.
Herbicide sorption studies
Two herbicides
Atrazine 2,4-D
Biochar alone or mixed with a Brandt silty clay loam soil (pH 6.3) at
1% biochar (w/w) or 10% biochar (w/w)
0.01 M CaCl2 with or without herbicide was added 4:1(v/w) when soil was present or 5:1 (v/w) if biochar alone
Measured
pH EC Herbicide remaining in solution after 24 hr of agitation,
sorption coefficient (Kd) for each herbicide was calculated
Three replications/trt; replicated in time
Results to date
Wood Chip Bioash/Biochar Properties
% Total Carbon = range from 37.7 to 36.4 with average of 37.0%) % Total Nitrogen = range from 0.15 to 0.17 with average of 0.16%) C:N ratio = range of 249:1 to 224:1 with an average of 239:1
Wood Chip Bioash/Biochar Properties
pH values (range from 11.8 to 9.8 with average of 11.0) Electrical conductivity [salt measurement] (range = 2.9 to 4.7 average = 3.6 dS m-1) Water soluble bases (Na+ = 11.6 cmolc kg-1; K+ = 19.1 cmolc kg-1; Mg2+ = 0.04 cmolc kg-1; and Ca2+ = 3.5 cmolc kg-1)
Switchgrass Biochar EC
3 2.5 2 EC (dS/m) 1.5 1 0.5 0 550 600 650
Soil EC
10 16 22
Processing temperature
Wood chip EC = 3.6
Switchgrass biochar pH
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 550 600
* 671 C
10 16 22 10% soil
650
Processing temperature
Switchgrass vs Corn stover Biochar pH
9 7 5 3 550S 550C 650S 650C Processing Temperature
pH
10 16 20
Atrazine sorption by switchgrass biochar
50 40 30 Kd 20 10 0 550 600 Temperature 650
Atrazine sorption by soil *
10 16 22
Atrazine sorption by corn stover biochar
90 80 70 60 50 Kd 40 30 20 10 0 550 600 Temperature 650
10 16 22
Kd atrazine in soil with 10% switchgrass biochar
16 14 12 10 Kd 8 6 4 2 0 550 600 650
Kd atrazine to soil = 3.8
10 16 22
Processing temperature
Kd atrazine in soil with 10% corn stover biochar
12 10 8 Kd 6 4 2 0 550 600 650
Kd atrazine to soil = 3.8
10 16 22
Processing temperature
Atrazine
Atrazine sorption is known to increase at when soil pH is either low (<5) or high (>8) The increased sorption (Kd) when biochar is present implies
Increased herbicide rates to get consistent weed control Longer residence time at high pH (due to unavailability to soil microbes) Shorter residence time at low pH (due to chemical hydroxylation) Changed leaching potential
2,4-D sorption by switchgrass biochar
50 40 30 Kd 20 10 0 550 600 Temperature 650
Kd 2,4-D to soil = 1.0 *
10 16 22
Kd 2,4-D in soil with 10% switchgrass biochar
16 14 12 10 Kd 8 6 4 2 0 550 600 650
2,4-D sorption by soil
10 16 22
Processing temperature
2,4-D
2,4-D is not a soil applied herbicide, however, small sorption coefficients to soil due to it’s negative charge give a model compound as comparison 2,4-D sorption also increased when specific biochar types were added
Less leaching by the negative compounds Longer residence time
Example of how Kd value affects leaching through a matrix
Kd = 1 Kd = 1
Input values for each scenario: Matrix layer = 20 and Pore value = 85 Red line = breakthrough curve of nonadsorbed carrier (water) Green line = breakthrough curve for chemical of interest
Kd = 4
Kd = 9
Simulation run through NetLogo 4.1
SDSU AG and Biosystems Engineering Dept. Year 2 Plan - Conversion process data collection
Determine composition of biofuels components. Determine composition of biochars. Determine energy content of biofuels components. Analyze mass and energy flow data.
Plant Science Dept. Year 2 Plan
Examine herbicide sorption characteristics using wood ash Examine desorption characteristics when biochar is amended to soil Examine herbicide availability to plants in greenhouse studies Column leaching experiments
INTERACTIONS OF BIOCHAR SOURCE/PROPERTIES IMPACTS ON SOIL PROPERTIES, C SEQUESTRATION POTENTIAL, AND CROP MANAGEMENT
D.D. Malo and S.A. Clay (project leaders), T.E. Schumacher, H.J. Woodard, D.E. Clay, and R.H. Gelderman, SDSU Plant Science Department; and H. Lei and J.L. Julson, SDSU Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Department
Development of an interactive input/output process and cost model with consideration of impacts of the end use of the biochar on the carbon status of the fuels or products made in the thermal chemical conversion process
V. Kelley, J. Julson, K. Muthukumarappan SDSU Agriculture and Biosystems Engineering Dept S.A. Clay SDSU Plant Science Dept G. Warmann SDSU Economics Dept H. Lei Washington State University
Others involved in project
Research Associates:
Steph Hansen Carrie Werkmeister Bev Klein
Undergraduate training
Mitch Olson Kaitlynn Krack Dan Clay Susie Rodriguez
Introduction Materials Methods Results Future research
Biochar
Co-product of pyrolysis,
an incineration method to gain energy (or ethanol) from organic materials under low or zero oxygen environments Many different starting materials including
Wood Corn stover switchgrass
The end-product is typically a fine-grained, highly porous charcoal
Why land spread biochar?
disposal method reuse nutrients remaining in biochar for carbon sequestration other uses?
Soil characteristics or processes that may be affected by biochar addition
Recent studies have focused on using biochar as nutrient sources Few studies have examined how biochar may influence or interact with other soil processes including:
Soil water holding capacity and release Soil warming Soil microbial activity pH and EC (salt content) Herbicide sorption
SDSU AG and Biosystems Engineering Dept. Task 1: Conversion process data collection- Year 1 Work collection-
Assembled a microwave- aided pyrolysis process. microwaveCompleted pyrolysis of woodchips, switchgrass and corn stover samples- based on a central samplescomposite experimental design. Source of biochar for herbicide sorption studies.
Objective
Determine the
pH and EC of biochar produced from various materials and conditions herbicide sorption characteristics of biochar alone
Determine the influence of biochar amendments on
soil pH soil EC soil microbial communities herbicide sorption
Materials
Biochar from three sources
Switchgrass Corn Stover
Corn stover and switchgrass were processed by SDSU Ag and Biosystems Engineering (Dr. J. Julson and Dr. H. Lei) Temperatures used were 550, 600, or 650 C Processing time 8 to 25 minutes 9 samples of each material
Wood ash [obtained from CVec Plant (Benson, MN)]
CVEC Plant* (Benson, MN)
* Chippewa Valley Ethanol Company - Source of wood bioash/biochar used in initial parts of project
Low temperature (550 C)
High temperature (650 C)
Increasing time
Low temperature (550 C)
High temperature (650 C)
Increasing time
Corn stover biochar image from Scanning Electron Microscope (HITACHI S-3000N), operated at 10 kV with pyrolysis condition at 550°C; The size of the hollow area was around 2-10 µm.
Microbial Studies Initiated
Denaturing Gradient Gel electrophoresis (DGGE). Three soils and two different levels of biochar additions were established and are being incubated. At selected times samples are taken and DGGE and fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis (FDA) tests will be run to determine if changes in soil microbial community occur as a result of biochar/bioash additions.
Herbicide sorption studies
Two herbicides
Atrazine 2,4-D
Biochar alone or mixed with a Brandt silty clay loam soil (pH 6.3) at
1% biochar (w/w) or 10% biochar (w/w)
0.01 M CaCl2 with or without herbicide was added 4:1(v/w) when soil was present or 5:1 (v/w) if biochar alone
Measured
pH EC Herbicide remaining in solution after 24 hr of agitation,
sorption coefficient (Kd) for each herbicide was calculated
Three replications/trt; replicated in time
Results to date
Wood Chip Bioash/Biochar Properties
% Total Carbon = range from 37.7 to 36.4 with average of 37.0%) % Total Nitrogen = range from 0.15 to 0.17 with average of 0.16%) C:N ratio = range of 249:1 to 224:1 with an average of 239:1
Wood Chip Bioash/Biochar Properties
pH values (range from 11.8 to 9.8 with average of 11.0) Electrical conductivity [salt measurement] (range = 2.9 to 4.7 average = 3.6 dS m-1) Water soluble bases (Na+ = 11.6 cmolc kg-1; K+ = 19.1 cmolc kg-1; Mg2+ = 0.04 cmolc kg-1; and Ca2+ = 3.5 cmolc kg-1)
Switchgrass Biochar EC
3 2.5 2 EC (dS/m) 1.5 1 0.5 0 550 600 650
Soil EC
10 16 22
Processing temperature
Wood chip EC = 3.6
Switchgrass biochar pH
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 550 600
* 671 C
10 16 22 10% soil
650
Processing temperature
Switchgrass vs Corn stover Biochar pH
9 7 5 3 550S 550C 650S 650C Processing Temperature
pH
10 16 20
Atrazine sorption by switchgrass biochar
50 40 30 Kd 20 10 0 550 600 Temperature 650
Atrazine sorption by soil *
10 16 22
Atrazine sorption by corn stover biochar
90 80 70 60 50 Kd 40 30 20 10 0 550 600 Temperature 650
10 16 22
Kd atrazine in soil with 10% switchgrass biochar
16 14 12 10 Kd 8 6 4 2 0 550 600 650
Kd atrazine to soil = 3.8
10 16 22
Processing temperature
Kd atrazine in soil with 10% corn stover biochar
12 10 8 Kd 6 4 2 0 550 600 650
Kd atrazine to soil = 3.8
10 16 22
Processing temperature
Atrazine
Atrazine sorption is known to increase at when soil pH is either low (<5) or high (>8) The increased sorption (Kd) when biochar is present implies
Increased herbicide rates to get consistent weed control Longer residence time at high pH (due to unavailability to soil microbes) Shorter residence time at low pH (due to chemical hydroxylation) Changed leaching potential
2,4-D sorption by switchgrass biochar
50 40 30 Kd 20 10 0 550 600 Temperature 650
Kd 2,4-D to soil = 1.0 *
10 16 22
Kd 2,4-D in soil with 10% switchgrass biochar
16 14 12 10 Kd 8 6 4 2 0 550 600 650
2,4-D sorption by soil
10 16 22
Processing temperature
2,4-D
2,4-D is not a soil applied herbicide, however, small sorption coefficients to soil due to it’s negative charge give a model compound as comparison 2,4-D sorption also increased when specific biochar types were added
Less leaching by the negative compounds Longer residence time
Example of how Kd value affects leaching through a matrix
Kd = 1 Kd = 1
Input values for each scenario: Matrix layer = 20 and Pore value = 85 Red line = breakthrough curve of nonadsorbed carrier (water) Green line = breakthrough curve for chemical of interest
Kd = 4
Kd = 9
Simulation run through NetLogo 4.1
SDSU AG and Biosystems Engineering Dept. Year 2 Plan - Conversion process data collection
Determine composition of biofuels components. Determine composition of biochars. Determine energy content of biofuels components. Analyze mass and energy flow data.
Plant Science Dept. Year 2 Plan
Examine herbicide sorption characteristics using wood ash Examine desorption characteristics when biochar is amended to soil Examine herbicide availability to plants in greenhouse studies Column leaching experiments
