Project Title： Study on biochar to recover nitrogen and phosphorous from biogas slurry mechanism and its plant-availability
Project Type: National Nature Science Foundation of China (NNSFC)
Project No. 41571288
Project Awardee: Qing Huang. E-mail: qhuang@iue.ac.cn
Project Abstract: The rapid urbanization in China has led to waste production at large volume from different sectors. Biogas slurry produces from intensive livestock farming in semi-urban and rural environment. The slurry is very rich with nutrients such as phosphorous and nitrogen, therefore, its improper disposal can create several environmental problems. This proposed study will be focused on the use of urban and rural organic wastes for biochar production and the application for the recovery of nitrogen, phosphorus and other nutrients from the biogas slurry. Different instruments such as ICP-MS, FAS, FIA, XRD, FTIR, Zeta potential analyzer and elemental analyzer be used to study the mechanisms involved in biochar removal of nitrogen and phosphorus from biogass slurry. The effects of different factors such as pH, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cl-, NO3-, SO42- etc. on biochar recovery capacity and then their availability ot plants will be studied. The toxic elements including Cd, Cu and Pb, and antibiotics and other organic pollutants will be investigated. At the same time, potted plant experiments and field experiments will be conducted to study the migration and transformation coefficients of harmful elements and antibiotics and other related components. The risk associated with biochar materials for large area application of biochar after adsorbing nitrogen and phosphorus from slurry will be covered in this study. We hope that this research with help to clarify the mechanisms of biochar which efficient recycle the nitrogen and phosphorus from slurry and then provide to soil for plant uptake. By development of above mentioned biochar and then their application to soil for nutrients supply will help reduce the economic cost of fertilizers in China. The technique will also be helpful to manage the urban and rural biogas slurry disposal problem, the poultry waste materials. The organic fertilizer developed will be used to enhance the plant production of low yielding fields in China. Key words: nitrogen and phosphorous; biogas slurry; biochar; bioavailability; seedling substrate Performing Organization: Institute of Urban Environment, CAS Period of Project: 2016.1-2019.12 Fund of Project: 752,000 RMB