Effective Carbon Dioxide Mitigation and Improvement of Compost Nutrients with the Use of Composts’ Biochar
Composting is a process that emits environmentally harmful gases: CO<sub>2</sub>, CO, H<sub>2</sub>S, and NH<sub>3</sub>, negatively affecting the quality of mature compost. The addition of biochar to the compost can significantly reduce emissions. For effective C...
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2024-01-01
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| author | Sylwia Stegenta-Dąbrowska Ewa Syguła Magdalena Bednik Joanna Rosik |
| author_facet | Sylwia Stegenta-Dąbrowska Ewa Syguła Magdalena Bednik Joanna Rosik |
| author_sort | Sylwia Stegenta-Dąbrowska |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Composting is a process that emits environmentally harmful gases: CO<sub>2</sub>, CO, H<sub>2</sub>S, and NH<sub>3</sub>, negatively affecting the quality of mature compost. The addition of biochar to the compost can significantly reduce emissions. For effective CO<sub>2</sub> removal, high doses of biochar (up to 20%) are often recommended. Nevertheless, as the production efficiency of biochar is low—up to 90% mass loss—there is a need for research into the effectiveness of lower doses. In this study, laboratory experiments were conducted to observe the gaseous emissions during the first 10 days of composting with biochars obtained from mature composts. Biochars were produced at 550, 600, and 650 °C, and tested with different doses of 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15% per dry matter (d.m.) in composting mixtures, at three incubation temperatures (50, 60, and 70 °C). CO<sub>2</sub>, CO, H<sub>2</sub>S, and NH<sub>3</sub> emissions were measured daily. The results showed that the biochars effectively mitigate CO<sub>2</sub> emissions during the intensive phase of composting. Even 3–6% d.m. of compost biochars can reduce up to 50% of the total measured gas emissions (the best treatment was B650 at 60 °C) and significantly increase the content of macronutrients. This study confirmed that even low doses of compost biochars have the potential for enhancing the composting process and improving the quality of the material quality. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T03:53:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-95dab98521df4b03b8bc3cd098957c34 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1944 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T03:53:51Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Materials |
| spelling | doaj.art-95dab98521df4b03b8bc3cd098957c342024-02-09T15:17:13ZengMDPI AGMaterials1996-19442024-01-0117356310.3390/ma17030563Effective Carbon Dioxide Mitigation and Improvement of Compost Nutrients with the Use of Composts’ BiocharSylwia Stegenta-Dąbrowska0Ewa Syguła1Magdalena Bednik2Joanna Rosik3Department of Applied Bioeconomy, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Chełmońskiego Street 37a, 51-630 Wrocław, PolandDepartment of Applied Bioeconomy, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Chełmońskiego Street 37a, 51-630 Wrocław, PolandInstitute of Soil Science, Plant Nutrition and Environmental Protection, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Grunwaldzka Street 53, 50-375 Wrocław, PolandDepartment of Applied Bioeconomy, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Chełmońskiego Street 37a, 51-630 Wrocław, PolandComposting is a process that emits environmentally harmful gases: CO<sub>2</sub>, CO, H<sub>2</sub>S, and NH<sub>3</sub>, negatively affecting the quality of mature compost. The addition of biochar to the compost can significantly reduce emissions. For effective CO<sub>2</sub> removal, high doses of biochar (up to 20%) are often recommended. Nevertheless, as the production efficiency of biochar is low—up to 90% mass loss—there is a need for research into the effectiveness of lower doses. In this study, laboratory experiments were conducted to observe the gaseous emissions during the first 10 days of composting with biochars obtained from mature composts. Biochars were produced at 550, 600, and 650 °C, and tested with different doses of 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15% per dry matter (d.m.) in composting mixtures, at three incubation temperatures (50, 60, and 70 °C). CO<sub>2</sub>, CO, H<sub>2</sub>S, and NH<sub>3</sub> emissions were measured daily. The results showed that the biochars effectively mitigate CO<sub>2</sub> emissions during the intensive phase of composting. Even 3–6% d.m. of compost biochars can reduce up to 50% of the total measured gas emissions (the best treatment was B650 at 60 °C) and significantly increase the content of macronutrients. This study confirmed that even low doses of compost biochars have the potential for enhancing the composting process and improving the quality of the material quality.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/17/3/563compostingbiocharGHG emissionsprocess intensificationcarbon monoxide |
| spellingShingle | Sylwia Stegenta-Dąbrowska Ewa Syguła Magdalena Bednik Joanna Rosik Effective Carbon Dioxide Mitigation and Improvement of Compost Nutrients with the Use of Composts’ Biochar Materials composting biochar GHG emissions process intensification carbon monoxide |
| title | Effective Carbon Dioxide Mitigation and Improvement of Compost Nutrients with the Use of Composts’ Biochar |
| title_full | Effective Carbon Dioxide Mitigation and Improvement of Compost Nutrients with the Use of Composts’ Biochar |
| title_fullStr | Effective Carbon Dioxide Mitigation and Improvement of Compost Nutrients with the Use of Composts’ Biochar |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effective Carbon Dioxide Mitigation and Improvement of Compost Nutrients with the Use of Composts’ Biochar |
| title_short | Effective Carbon Dioxide Mitigation and Improvement of Compost Nutrients with the Use of Composts’ Biochar |
| title_sort | effective carbon dioxide mitigation and improvement of compost nutrients with the use of composts biochar |
| topic | composting biochar GHG emissions process intensification carbon monoxide |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/17/3/563 |
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