BIOCHAR :A GUIDE TO ANALYTICAL METHODS

321 Pages·2017·25.8 MB·English

by  Balwant Singh

Biochar
A GUIDE TO ANALYTICAL METHODS
Editors: Balwant Singh, Marta Camps-Arbestain and Johannes Lehmann
Biochar
A GUIDE TO ANALYTICAL METHODS
Editors: Balwant Singh, Marta Camps-Arbestain and Johannes Lehmann
© Balwant Singh, Marta Camps-Arbestain and Johannes Lehmann 2017
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National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication entry
Biochar : a guide to analytical methods / Balwant Singh,
Marta Camps-Arbestain and Johannes Lehmann, editors.
9781486305094 (paperback)
9781486305100 (epdf)
9781486305117 (epub)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Biochar – Analysis.
Biochar – Composition.
Charcoal – Analysis.
Charcoal – Composition.
Singh, Balwant, editor.
Camps-Arbestain, Marta, editor.
Lehmann, Johannes, Dr., editor.
662.74
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Contents
Preface and acknowledgements v
List of contributors vii
1 Sampling, storage and preparation of biochar for laboratory analysis 1
Isabel Hilber, Hans-Peter Schmidt and Thomas D. Bucheli
2 Proximate analyses for characterising biochars 9
Akio Enders and Johannes Lehmann
3 Biochar pH, electrical conductivity and liming potential 23
Balwant Singh, Michaela Mei Dolk, Qinhua Shen and Marta Camps-Arbestain
4 Analysis of biochars for C, H, N, O and S by elemental analyser 39
Michael Bird, Claudia Keitel and Will Meredith
5 Inorganic carbon 51
Roberto Calvelo Pereira, Marta Camps-Arbestain, Tao Wang and Akio Enders
6 Dissolved carbon and LC-OCD of biochar 64
Khorshed Chinu, Christopher E. Marjo, Stephen D. Joseph and Balwant Singh
7 Determination of cation exchange capacity in biochar 74
Ellen R. Graber, Balwant Singh, Kelly Hanley and Johannes Lehmann
8 Determining acidic groups at biochar surfaces via the Boehm titration 85
Ellen R. Graber, Ludmila Tsechansky, Rivka B. Fidel, Michael L. Thompson and David A. Laird
9 Total elemental analysis of metals and nutrients in biochars 95
Akio Enders, Saran Sohi, Johannes Lehmann and Balwant Singh
10 Available nutrients in biochar 109
Marta Camps-Arbestain, Qinhua Shen, Tao Wang, Lukas van Zwieten and Jeff Novak
11 Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in biochar 126
Gerard Cornelissen and Sarah E. Hale
12 Analysis of biochar porosity by pycnometry 132
Xiaodong Gao and Caroline A. Masiello
13 Guiding principles for measuring sorption of organic compounds on biochars 141
Rai S. Kookana, Ellen R. Graber and Ronald J. Smernik
iv Biochar
14 Analysis of biochars by 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy 151
Ronald J. Smernik
15 Analysis of biochars using benzene polycarboxylic acids 162
Michael W.I. Schmidt, Michael D. Hilf and Guido L.B. Wiesenberg
16 Pyrolysis-GC-MS of biochar 170
Joeri Kaal and Roberto Calvelo Pereira
17 Analysis of biochars by hydropyrolysis 187
Will Meredith, Anna McBeath, Philippa Ascough and Michael Bird
18 Biochar analysis by Fourier-transform infra-red spectroscopy 199
Cliff T. Johnston
19 Carbon near-edge absorption fine structure as a tool for
understanding chemical differences in biochars 214
Peter S. Nico, Thomas Z. Regier, Adam W. Gillespie and Anca Cristina Cismasu
20 X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis of biochar 229
Graham C. Smith
21 X-ray diffraction analysis of biochar 245
Balwant Singh and Mark D. Raven
22 Stable isotope analysis of biochars 253
Claudia Keitel, Philippa Ascough, Chris Wurster and Michael Bird
23 Application of scanning electron microscopy to the
analysis of biochar-related materials 272
Stephen D. Joseph and Paul R. Munroe
24 Thermal analysis for biochar characterisation 283
Ondrˇej Mašek and Cliff T. Johnston
Appendix 1. Biochar samples and their preparation for laboratory analysis 295
Balwant Singh, Qinhua Shen and Marta Camps-Arbestain
Appendix 2. Specific surface area and porosity measurements 297
Scott Donne
Index 300
Preface and acknowledgements
Biochar is perhaps one of the topics with the greatest for the workshop in 2014. The reference biochars used
increase in research activity among soil and environ- for the analyses were kindly provided by the UK Bio-
ment researchers over the last decade. The initial char Research Centre, Edinburgh (UK), US Depart-
interest in biochar research was mostly focused on its ment of Agriculture (USDA), Florence, (USA),
roles in long-term carbon storage in soils, and soil University of Sydney, Pacific Pyrolysis Somersby
fertility. However, in recent years biochar research has (Australia), NSW Department of Primary Industries,
expanded into environmental, water science, mining, Wollongbar (Australia), Fraunhofer-Institute for
microbial ecology and other fields. While the research Environmental, Safety, and Energy Technology
advances for agriculture and environmental applica- (UMSICHT), Sulzbach-Rosenberg (Germany),
tions of biochar are well covered in numerous journal Department of Agriculture (Thailand), and Univer-
publications and the two editions of Biochar for Envi- sity of Zurich (Switzerland). We are particularly grate-
ronmental Management: Science, Technology and ful to Adriana Downie, Andreas Hornung, Jeff Novak,
Implementation (Eds J. Lehmann and S. Joseph) the Nattaporn Prakongkep, Michael Schmidt, Saran Sohi,
analytical aspects of biochar have remained largely Fabian Stenzel and Lukas van Zwieten for their efforts
neglected. This book aims to fill that gap. It provides in the provision of biochar samples. We are grateful to
procedures and guidelines for routine and advanced several other colleagues for their help in the analysis
characterisation of biochar to the biochar community of biochar and the review of manuscripts, in particu-
including researchers, industry and users. lar Jim Amonette, Feike Dijkstra, Tim Filley, Arthur
There have been discussions at various scientific Gessler, Robert Gilkes, Bill Gong, Stefan Hill, Bill
meetings and conferences about the procedures used Koskinen, Felipe Macías, David Mitchell, Klaas
in the laboratory analysis of biochars. Work on this Nierop, Juan Carlos Novoa-Muñoz, Alain Plante,
book was initiated after the 20th World Congress of Malcolm Possell, Alessandro Girolamo Rombolà,
Soil Science in Jeju, Korea in June 2014. Following the Hilary Stuart-Williams, Michael Turner, Sophie
conference, reference biochars were assembled and Uchimiya and John Watts. We also thankful to
subsamples were distributed to researchers for various Qinhua Shen for her help in formatting the chapters.
analyses. The intention was to include a wide range of Our sincere thanks to CSIRO Publishing, particu-
the measurements and techniques that are employed larly Lauren Webb for her friendly reminders and set-
for biochar characterisation for various applications. ting firm but realistic time-lines for finalising the
We contacted several research groups with experience chapters and guiding us through the publication pro-
in specialised techniques. Analytical results of the cess. We also thank Julia Stuthe, who enthusiastically
reference biochars were discussed at an international approved the book proposal. Finally, we are immensely
workshop at the University of Sydney in December grateful to our respective families for their kind sup-
2014, and a framework for the book was prepared at port during the time we indulged in writing and edit-
the workshop. This resulted in the preparation of 24 ing the book.
chapters and two appendices – this book. We antici-
pate that the procedures and analytical data presented Balwant Singh, Marta Camps-Arbestain and Johannes
here will not only be an important resource for Lehmann
researchers, but also have utility for practitioners and
regulatory agencies.
We are grateful to Professor Mark Adams, former
Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture and Environment,
University of Sydney for providing generous funding
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List of contributors
Philippa Ascough, Scottish Universities Environ- Michaela Mei Dolk, Centre for Carbon, Water and
mental Research Centre, Scottish Enterprise Techno- Food, Faculty of Agriculture and Environment, Uni-
logy Park, Rankine Avenue, East Kilbride G75 0QF, versity of Sydney, Sydney NSW 2006, Australia.
UK. [email protected] [email protected]
Michael Bird, College of Science, Technology and Scott Donne, PRC for Energy, Discipline of Chemis-
Engineering and Centre for Tropical Environmental try, University of Newcastle, Callaghan NSW 2308,
and Sustainability Science, James Cook University, Australia. [email protected]
PO Box 6811, Cairns Qld 4870, Australia. michael.
[email protected] Akio Enders, Department of Soil and Crop Sciences,
Cornell University, Ithaca NY 14853, USA. ae55@cor-
Thomas D. Bucheli, Agroscope Institute for Sustain- nell.edu
ability Sciences, Reckenholzstrasse 191, 8046 Zurich,
Switzerland. [email protected]. R.B. Fidel, Department of Agronomy, Iowa State Uni-
versity, Ames IA 50011, USA. [email protected]
Roberto Calvelo Pereira, New Zealand Biochar
Research Centre, Institute of Agriculture and Envi- Xiaodong Gao, Department of Earth Science, Rice
ronment, Private Bag 11222, Massey University, 4442 University, Houston TX 77005, USA. [email protected]
Palmerston North, New Zealand. R.CalveloPereira@
massey.ac.nz Adam W. Gillespie, Ministry of Agriculture, Food
and Rural Affairs, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
Marta Camps-Arbestain, New Zealand Biochar [email protected]
Research Centre, Institute of Agriculture and Envi-
ronment, Private Bag 11222, Massey University, 4442 Ellen R. Graber, Institute of Soil, Water and Environ-
Palmerston North, New Zealand. M.Camps@massey. mental Sciences, Volcani Center, ARO, Bet Dagan
ac.nz 50250, Israel. [email protected]
Khorshed Chinu, Mark Wainwright Analytical Cen- Sarah E. Hale, Norwegian University of Life Sciences,
tre, University of New South Wales, Sydney NSW NMBU, Ås, Norway. [email protected]
2052, Australia. [email protected]
Kelly Hanley, Department of Soil and Crop Sciences,
Gerard Cornelissen, Norwegian Geotechnical Insti- Cornell University, Ithaca NY 14853, USA. klh54@
tute, Oslo, Norway, and Norwegian University of Life cornell.edu
Sciences, NMBU, Ås, Norway. Gerard.Cornelissen@
ngi.no Isabel Hilber, Agroscope Institute for Sustainability
Sciences, Reckenholzstrasse 191, 8046 Zurich, Swit-
Anca Cristina Cismasu, Earth and Environmental zerland. [email protected]
Sciences Area, Lawrence Berkeley National Labora-
tory, Berkeley, California. cristina.cismasu@gmail. Michael D. Hilf, Department of Geography, Univer-
com sity of Zurich, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland. michael.
[email protected]
viii Biochar
Cliff T. Johnston, Crop, Soil and Environmental Sci- Caroline A. Masiello, Department of Earth Science,
ences, Department of Agronomy, 915 W. State St, Rice University, Houston TX 77005, USA. masiello@
Purdue University, West Lafayette IN, USA. cliffjohn- rice.edu
[email protected]
Anna McBeath, College of Science, Technology and
Stephen D. Joseph, School of Materials Science and Engineering, and Centre for Tropical Environmental
Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney and Sustainability Science, James Cook University,
NSW 2052, Australia, and Discipline of Chemistry, PO Box 6811, Cairns Qld 4870, Australia. anna.
University of Newcastle, Callaghan NSW 2308, [email protected]
Australia. [email protected]
Will Meredith, Department of Chemical and Envi-
ronmental Engineering, Jubilee Campus, University
Joeri Kaal, Institute for Heritage Sciences, Spanish
of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2TU, UK. william.
National Research Council, Universidade de Santiago
[email protected]
de Compostela, Dep. Edafoloxía e Química Agrícola,
15704 Santiago de Compostela, Spain. joeri@samage.
Paul R. Munroe, School of Materials Science and
net
Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney
NSW 2052, Australia. [email protected]
Claudia Keitel, Centre for Carbon, Water and Food,
Faculty of Agriculture and Environment, University
Peter S. Nico, Earth and Environmental Sciences
of Sydney, 380 Werombi Rd, Brownlow Hill NSW
Area, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berke-
2570, Australia. [email protected]
ley, California. [email protected]
Rai S. Kookana, CSIRO Land and Water, PMB 2,
Jeff Novak, USDA-ARS, Coastal Plain Soil, Water and
Glen Osmond SA 5064, Australia, and School of Agri-
Plant Research Center, 2611 West Lucas St, Florence
culture, Food and Wine, University of Adelaide, PMB
SC 29501, USA. [email protected]
1, Glen Osmond SA 5064, Australia. Rai.Kookana@
csiro.au
Mark D. Raven, CSIRO Land and Water, Waite Rd,
Urrbrae SA 5064, Australia. [email protected]
D.A. Laird, Department of Agronomy, Iowa State
University, Ames IA 50011, USA. [email protected]
Thomas Z. Regier, Canadian Light Source Inc., Sas-
katoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. tom.regier@light-
Johannes Lehmann, Department of Soil and Crop
source.ca
Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca NY 14853, USA.
[email protected] Hans-Peter Schmidt, Ithaka Institute, Ancienne
Eglise 9, 1974 Arbaz, Switzerland. schmidt@ithaka-
Christopher E. Marjo, Mark Wainwright Analytical institut.org
Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney NSW
2052, Australia. [email protected] Michael W.I. Schmidt, Department of Geography,
University of Zurich, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland.
Ondřej Mašek, UK Biochar Research Centre, School [email protected]
of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh, Crew Build-
ing, The Kings Building, Edinburgh EH92JN, UK. Qinhua Shen, New Zealand Biochar Research Centre,
[email protected] Institute of Agriculture and Environment, Private Bag
List of contributors ix
11222, Massey University, 4442 Palmerston North, L. Tsechansky, Institute of Soil, Water and Environ-
New Zealand. [email protected] mental Sciences, Volcani Center, Agricultural
Research Organization, POB 6, Bet Dagan, 50250,
Balwant Singh, Centre for Carbon, Water and Food, Israel. [email protected]
Faculty of Agriculture and Environment, University
of Sydney, Sydney NSW 2006, Australia. balwant. Lukas van Zwieten, NSW Department of Primary
[email protected] Industries, 1243 Bruxner Hwy, Wollongbar NSW
2477, Australia. [email protected]
Ronald J. Smernik, School of Agriculture, Food and
Wine, and Waite Research Institute, University of Tao Wang, Department of Biology, Microbial Ecology
Adelaide, Waite Campus, Urrbrae SA 5064, Australia. Group, Lund University, SE-223 62 Lund, Sweden.
[email protected] [email protected]
Graham C. Smith, Department of Natural Sciences, Guido L.B. Wiesenberg, Department of Geography,
University of Chester, Thornton Science Park, Chester University of Zurich, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland. guido.
CH2 4NU, UK. [email protected] [email protected]
Saran Sohi, UK Biochar Research Centre, School of Chris Wurster, College of Science, Technology and
GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh, Crew Build- Engineering, and Centre for Tropical Environmental
ing, The Kings Building, Edinburgh EH92JN, UK. and Sustainability Science, James Cook University,
[email protected] PO Box 6811, Cairns Qld 4870, Australia. christopher.
[email protected]
M.L. Thompson, Department of Agronomy, Iowa
State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, USA. mlthomps@
iastate.edu