4.8 Article

Rapid Simulation of Decade-Scale Charcoal Aging in Soil: Changes in Physicochemical Properties and Their Environmental Implications

Journal

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Volume -, Issue -, Pages -

Publisher

AMER CHEMICAL SOC
DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c04751

Keywords

char; aging; simulation; dissolved organic carbon; polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; persistent free radicals; surface charge; contact angle

Funding

  1. Rice University?s Carbon Hub
  2. Shell
  3. National Natural Science Foundation of China
  4. [52070128]
  5. [21876108]

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This study compared different laboratory aging methods to simulate biochar aging using a decade-scale natural charcoal aging event. The results showed that oxidation with 30% H2O2 most accurately simulated most properties of ten-year field aging. UVA aging and NH2Cl aging showed distinct differences compared to field aging. By reducing the number of measured physicochemical properties, biochar aging can be accurately predicted.
In situ aging can change biochar properties, influencing their ecosystem benefits or risks over time. However, there is a lack of field verification of laboratory methods that attempt simulation of long-term natural aging of biochar. We exploited a decade-scale natural charcoal (a proxy for biochar) aging event to determine which lab-aging methods best mimicked field aging. We oxidized charcoal by ultraviolet A radiation (UVA), H2O2, or monochloramine (NH2Cl), and compared it to 10-year field-aged charcoal. We considered seven selected charcoal properties related to surface chemistry and organic matter release, and found that oxidation with 30% H2O2 most representatively simulated 10-year field aging for six out of seven properties. UVA aging failed to approximate oxidation levels while showing a distinctive dissolved organic carbon (DOC) release pattern. NH2Cl-aged charcoal was the most different, showing an increased persistent free radical (PFR) concentration and lower hydrophilicity. All lab oxidation techniques overpredicted polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon release. The O/C ratio was well-correlated with DOC release, PFR concentration, surface charge, and charcoal pH, indicating the possibility to accurately predict biochar aging with a reduced suite of physicochemical properties. Overall, our rapid and verified lab-aging methods facilitate research toward derisking and enhancing long-term benefits of biochar application.

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