Biochar derived from cadmium-contaminated rice straw at various pyrolysis temperatures: Cadmium immobilization mechanisms and environmental implication

The total concentration, chemical speciation and availability of Cd in biochar derived from Cd-contaminated rice straw were determined to evaluate the potential environmental risk of Cd in biochar and the possibility of biochar as effective way to dispose Cd-contaminated straw. The Cd was concentrated with the increased pyrolysis temperature, while the bioavailability of Cd in biochar was reduced. The sequence extraction indicated that residual fraction of Cd increased and acid exchangeable fraction decreased as pyrolysis temperature increased. The biochar modified by phosphate could significantly reduce the concentration of total and DTPA-extractable Cd in biochar. The pot experiment demonstrated that pyrolysis reduced the potential environmental risk of Cd in biochar. The precipitation and co-precipitation, physical sorption, surface electrostatic interaction, and functional group complexation could be the potential mechanisms of Cd immobilization in biochar. These findings suggested that pyrolysis would be an acceptable and feasible way to dispose contaminated rice straw.

Automated summary

The concentration of Cd in biochar derived from Cd-contaminated straw increases with pyrolysis temperature, but its bioavailability decreases. Phosphate-modified biochar can significantly reduce the Cd concentration, and pyrolysis can also reduce the environmental risk of Cd in biochar.