Comparison of Wet-Digestion and Dry-Ashing Methods for Total Elemental Analysis of Biochar

Total elemental analyses of biochars presents challenges during digestion because of biochars' high chemical recalcitrance and widely varied composition. Three biochars were chosen with contrasting properties: corn stover pyrolyzed at 300 degrees C, oak wood at 600 degrees C, and poultry manure with sawdust at 600 degrees C. Recovery of phosphorus (P), potassium (K), sulfur (S), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and zinc (Zn) from poultry manure biochar was 10 to 100 times less with published wet-or dry-digestion methods than when using improved methods. The published dry-digestion method returned significantly (P < 0.05) more sodium (Na), suggesting contamination from borosilicate glassware. A modified dry-ashing (MDA) method was the most precise method, demonstrating a relative standard deviation within 3.7% of the most precise method for recovery of P, K, S, Ca, Mg, and Zn from both corn and oak biochars. The MDA method is comparatively safe and effective for preparing biochar for elemental analysis.