Explicating proficiency of waste biomass-derived biochar for reclaiming phosphate from source-separated urine and its application as a phosphate biofertilizer

In this study, a phosphate biofertilizer was prepared from waste corn biomass that adsorbed phosphorus (P) from source-separated urine (SSU). The biochar was modified with magnesium (MgB), and its performance was compared with biochar without magnesium modification (CCB). The functional characteristics, such as the morphology, structure, and texture of the prepared biochar, were studied. The surface area values of MgB were detected to be 614 m(2)/g. At the same time, the average pore diameters were 50 nm indicating the presence of well-developed mesopores in the material. SEM study that reveals the development of honeycomb-shaped porous structure in the biochars. The Mg-biochar was validated of its high phosphate removal competency, achieving 96 % of phosphate recovery from synthetic urine. Elemental analysis of the biochar, before and after treatment, by EDAX confirms adsorption of phosphate on the surface of MgB. MgB that recovered phosphate from urine significantly increased the Mehlich3 phosphate blend of the soil, which indicated that the phosphate recovered from SSU by the biochar could be utilized to increase the plant-available phosphate in the soil. Seed germination experiments that carried out with Biochar and Biochar with recovered P were the testimony that the recovered phosphate can indeed uplift the crop health by increasing the nutrient content of the soil. Effective application of the biochar for disinfection of the pathogen, Brevundimonas diminuta found in the collected SSU, was demonstrated with the high efficacy of over similar to 80 %.

Automated summary

This study successfully prepared a phosphate biofertilizer using waste biomass to adsorb phosphorus from urine, demonstrating its effectiveness in increasing plant-available phosphate in soil and improving crop growth.