Influence of biochar addition on the humic substances of composting manures

• Published in: Waste management (Elmsford) Vol. 49; pp. 545 - 552
• Main Authors: Jindo, Keiji, Sonoki, Tomonori, Matsumoto, Kazuhiro, Canellas, Luciano, Roig, Asunción, Sanchez-Monedero, Miguel A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Ltd 01.03.2016
• Subjects: Animals; Benzopyrans - analysis; Benzopyrans - chemistry; Blends; Cattle; Charcoal; Charcoal - analysis; Charcoal - chemistry; Compost; Composting; Fulvic acid; Humic acid; Humic acids; Humic Substances - analysis; Hydroxyapatite; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Manure; Manure - analysis; Organic waste; Polymer blends; Poultry; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; Thermogravimetry; Waste Management; Compost; Organic waste; FT-IR; CM; CPMAS 13C NMR; SOM; PM+B; MB; HA; W1; FA; W2; Fulvic acid; PM; CM+B; OM; Humic acid; Charcoal
• ISSN: 0956-053X; 1879-2456
• DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2016.01.007

•Biochar application into composting mixture increased carbon content in humic and fulvic acids.•Thermogravimetry reflected higher chemical stability of humic and fulvic acids derived from compost with biochar.•Biochar addition enriched the fulvic acids in carboxilic and aromatic groups.•The aromatic index of the humic acids reflected a more condensed molecular structure in the biochar blended with compost. Application of biochar (10% v/v) to a manure composting matrix was investigated to evaluate its effect on the chemical composition of humic substances during the composting process. The characteristics of the humic acid (HA) and fulvic acid (FA) fractions were analyzed in compost mixtures originating from two different manures (poultry manure (PM) and cow manure (CM)). The C contents of HA and FA from the manure compost/biochar blends (PM+B and CM+B) were higher than those from PM and CM, with an enhanced recalcitrant fraction, as determined by thermogravimetric analysis. Spectroscopic analysis showed that enrichment of aromatic-C and carboxylic-C occurred in the FA fractions of PM+B and CM+B to a greater extent than in PM and CM. Biochar addition into the composting mixture improved the final compost quality, especially for the light humified fraction (FA).