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Author Spotlight: On-Site Biochar Production for Woody Debris Incineration in Forestry
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Microwave and open vessel digestion methods for biochar.

Pathum D Wathudura1, Chathuri Peiris2, Chanaka M Navarathna3

  • 1College of Chemical Sciences, Institute of Chemistry Ceylon, Rajagiriya, CO 10107, Sri Lanka.

Chemosphere
|September 16, 2019
PubMed
Summary

Developing effective digestion methods for biochar (BC) is crucial. Fuming nitric acid (FNA) is identified as a preferable reagent for microwave digestion of diverse biochar materials, ensuring minimal matrix effects and satisfactory metal quantification.

Keywords:
BiocharCarbonaceous materialsElemental analysisMicrowave digestionWet digestion

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Area of Science:

  • Environmental Chemistry
  • Analytical Chemistry
  • Materials Science

Background:

  • Biomass-derived carbonaceous materials like biochar (BC) present digestion challenges due to recalcitrance and compositional variability.
  • Developing efficient sample digestion methods for BC is critical for accurate elemental analysis.
  • Existing methods are often inadequate for the diverse nature of biochar.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate a fast and convenient open-vessel digestion method for various biochar types.
  • To assess the efficiency of seven different digestion reagents and mixtures.
  • To determine the optimal reagent for microwave digestion of biochar for elemental analysis.

Main Methods:

  • Tested nine different biochar samples produced via various pyrolysis methods and conditions.
  • Evaluated seven digestion reagents: nitric acid (NA), fuming nitric acid (FNA), sulfuric acid (SA), and their mixtures with or without H2O2.
  • Assessed open-vessel digestion and microwave digestion (MWD) efficiencies.
  • Quantified four metals using flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry (FAAS) to evaluate matrix effects and recoveries.

Main Results:

  • The SA/H2O2 mixture effectively dissolved low-temperature produced BC (LTBC) in 2 hours without heating.
  • For MWD, FNA, NA/SA, and FNA/SA mixtures successfully dissolved all tested carbonaceous materials.
  • FNA demonstrated the least matrix effect and satisfactory recoveries for metal quantification via FAAS.

Conclusions:

  • Fuming nitric acid (FNA) is recommended as a preferable reagent for microwave digestion of biochar.
  • The chosen digestion method and reagent enable efficient dissolution and accurate elemental analysis of diverse biochar samples.
  • Further research into biochar digestion methods is warranted to address its complex nature.