TY - JOUR
T1 - Environmental contextualisation of potential toxic elements and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in biochar
AU - Freddo, Alessia
AU - Cai, Chao
AU - Reid, Brain J.
PY - 2012
Y1 - 2012
N2 - Nine dissimilar biochars, produced from varying feedstock at different pyrolysis temperatures, are appraised with respect to concentrations of potentially toxic elements, specifically, metals, metalloids and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Concentrations of the metals and metalloids varied with the following ranges (mg kg−1): 0.02–0.94, Cd; 0.12–6.48, Cr; 0.04–13.2, Cu; 0.1–1.37, Ni; 0.06–3.87, Pb; 0.94–207, Zn and 0.03–0.27, As. Σ16PAH concentrations (16 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) PAHs) range between 0.08 mg kg−1 to 8.7 mg kg−1. Subsequent comparison with background soil concentrations, concentration applied to the regulation of composted materials (Publicly Available Specification (PAS 100)) and European Union (EU) regulations relating to the application of sewage sludge to agricultural land suggest low risk associated with the concentrations of PTEs observed in biochar. Collectively, results suggest that environmental impacts attributable to metals, metalloids and PAHs associated with biochar following its application to soil are likely to be minimal.
AB - Nine dissimilar biochars, produced from varying feedstock at different pyrolysis temperatures, are appraised with respect to concentrations of potentially toxic elements, specifically, metals, metalloids and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Concentrations of the metals and metalloids varied with the following ranges (mg kg−1): 0.02–0.94, Cd; 0.12–6.48, Cr; 0.04–13.2, Cu; 0.1–1.37, Ni; 0.06–3.87, Pb; 0.94–207, Zn and 0.03–0.27, As. Σ16PAH concentrations (16 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) PAHs) range between 0.08 mg kg−1 to 8.7 mg kg−1. Subsequent comparison with background soil concentrations, concentration applied to the regulation of composted materials (Publicly Available Specification (PAS 100)) and European Union (EU) regulations relating to the application of sewage sludge to agricultural land suggest low risk associated with the concentrations of PTEs observed in biochar. Collectively, results suggest that environmental impacts attributable to metals, metalloids and PAHs associated with biochar following its application to soil are likely to be minimal.
U2 - 10.1016/j.envPol.2012.07.009
DO - 10.1016/j.envPol.2012.07.009
M3 - Article
VL - 171
SP - 18
EP - 24
JO - Environmental Pollution
JF - Environmental Pollution
SN - 0269-7491
ER -