On the behaviour, mechanistic modelling and interaction of biochar and crop fertilizers in aqueous solutions

Although the benefits of applying biochar for the purposes of soil conditioning and crop productivity enhancement have been demonstrated, relatively few studies have elaborated on its causal mechanisms, especially on the biochar–fertilizer interaction. Thus, in the present study, the ex-situ adsorptive potential of base activated biochar (BAB) towards plant nutrient immobilization and removal from aqueous solutions was
investigated. Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum) was utilized as the precursor to prepare slow vacuum pyrolysed char and its affinity towards adsorption of urea was examined at various process conditions. Low sorption temperatures, moderate agitation speeds and high initial concentration were seen to favour greater urea uptake by BAB. The sorption was exothermic, physical, spontaneous and had a pseudo-second order kinetic fit. Both surface and intra-particle diffusion governed the removal and immobilization of urea. Furthermore, process mass transfer was limited by film diffusion of urea to the external surface of the BAB. Equilibrium studies suggested that Dubinin–Radushkevich is the most appropriate model to describe the urea-BAB behaviour with maximum uptake, estimated to be 1115 mg·g−1. Through such ex-situ analysis, it could be possible to have prior knowledge, quantification and differentiation of the potential of chars manufactured from various feedstocks. This could then be used as an effective screening step in designing appropriate biochar–fertilizer systems for soil conditioning and help reduce the time and effort spent otherwise in long-term field studies.