Effect of biochar amendment on greenhouse gas emission and bio-availability of heavy metals during sewage sludge co-composting. (1st November 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Awasthi, Mukesh Kumar; Wang, Quan; Huang, Hui; Li, Ronghua; Shen, Feng; Lahori, Altaf Hussain; Wang, Ping; Guo, Di; Guo, Zhanyu; Jiang, Shuncheng; Zhang, Zengqiang
• Is Part Of: Journal of cleaner production. Volume 135(2016:Nov.)
• Page Start: 829
• Page End: 835
• Publication Date: 2016-11-01
• Subjects: Dewatered fresh sewage sludge -- Biochar -- Composting -- Greenhouse gas -- Ammonia; Factory and trade waste -- Management -- Periodicals; Manufactures -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Déchets industriels -- Gestion -- Périodiques; Usines -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; 628.5
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.07.008
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0959-6526

Abstract

Abstract: In the present study, we evaluated the feasibility of biochar amended with lime (B + L) to reduce the loss of ammonia, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and the bio-availability of heavy metals (HMs) during composting of dewatered fresh sewage sludge (DFSS) and to improve the end product quality. Biochar mixed with a low dosage of lime was supplemented at a 1:1 ratio into DFSS and wheat straw (dry weight basis), and compared with a lime only amendment and a control without any amendment. The CO2 emission profile clearly indicated that the B + L addition was effectively buffered a pH ∼8.0, and the B + L amendment experienced an enhanced the rate of decomposition compared to control and lime amended treatments. In aerobic co-composting, the B + L amendment effectively reduced the loss of ammonia, CH4, and N2 O emission. B + L amended DFSS compost also showed significantly higher concentrations of humic-acid (17.23%) and fulvic-acid (3.79%) compounds, effectively reduced the bio-availability of HMs (34.81% Cu, 56.74% Zn, 87.96% Pb and 86.65% Ni) and improved compost maturity compared to control and lime amendments. Furthermore, the B + L amendment increased the adsorption of ammonium ions by reducing the ammonia loss and N2 O emission, resulting in compost with higher nutrient concentrations. These results can be used to formulate the initial feedstock for industrial scale composting processes. Highlights: Biochar has significant impact on CO2 emission during sewage sludge co-composting. Biochar mixed with lime amendment reduce the NH3, CH4 and N2 O emission. Biochar + lime amendment inhibit the bioavailability of heavy metals. Biochar + lime addition improve the quality of sewage sludge compost.