CSIR Central

Evaluation of the Fuel Value and Soil Application Potential of the Cadmium Contaminated Biochar Obtained after Water Treatment

IR@CIMFR: CSIR-Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research, Dhanbad

View Archive Info
 
 
Field Value
 
Title Evaluation of the Fuel Value and Soil Application Potential of the Cadmium Contaminated Biochar Obtained after Water Treatment
 
Creator Masto, R.E.
 
Subject Enviornmental Management
 
Description Spent biochar obtained after water treatment especially metal adsorption could be used as a solid fuel. In this study, soil application potential and fuel value of cadmium contaminated biochar was investigated. Biochar prepared from Parthenium (PBC) and the thermally modified biochar (MPBC) was artificially contaminated with different concentrations (1, 10, 50, 100 and 200 mg/l) of Cd solution. The contaminated PBC-Cd and MPBC-Cd was applied to a red soil, and their impact on soil biological activity, maize growth and Cd bioaccumulation was assessed. Maize growth was retarded due to the contaminated biochar. Soil and plant Cd concentrations increased significantly. The soil dehydrogenase (DHA) and fluorescein diacetate hydrolases enzyme activities were adversely affected. DHA reduced from 324 to 97 mg TPF/kg/24 h in MPBC-1 to MPBC-200, while in PBC-1 to PBC-200, DHA decreased from 422 to 112 mg TPF/kg/24 h. Cd contaminated biochars obtained after waste water treatment could not be used for soil application. Fuel values of contaminated biochar were analysed by the higher heating value of biochars and their fusibility indices. The high heating value of the biochar is comparable with the lignite. Raw biochar contains significant amount of alkali elements that affected their use as a fuel. However after adsorption, the washing of the biochar alkalies significantly improved the fuel properties, especially the propensity for slagging and fouling. Biochar used for treatment of contaminated waste water could be sustainably used as a solid fuel; however further studies are needed to manage the metal enriched ash generated after combustion of these contaminated biochar.
 
Publisher Springer
 
Date 2020-12
 
Type Article
PeerReviewed
 
Relation https://doi.org/10.3103/S0361521920060075
http://cimfr.csircentral.net/2272/
 
Identifier Masto, R.E. (2020) Evaluation of the Fuel Value and Soil Application Potential of the Cadmium Contaminated Biochar Obtained after Water Treatment. Solid Fuel Chemistry, 54 (6). pp. 411-417.