Changes

==What Is It?==

==What Is It?==

Biochar is a carbon-rich material produced by pyrolysis of organic feedstocks such as municipal, agricultural, and forestry wastes. It has a high surface area, which enhances soil aggregation, water holding capacity, and organic carbon content. However, biochar properties and effectiveness for pollutant sorption depends on feedstock and pyrolysis conditions. <ref name=Iqbal>Iqbal H, Garcia-Perez M, Flury M. Effect of biochar on leaching of organic carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus from compost in bioretention systems. Science of the Total Environment. 2015;521-522: 37-45. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.03.060</ref>

Biochar is a carbon-rich material produced by pyrolysis of organic feedstocks such as municipal, agricultural, and forestry wastes. It has a high surface area, which enhances soil aggregation, [[water holding capacity]], and [[organic matter| organic carbon content]]. However, biochar properties and effectiveness for pollutant sorption depends on feedstock and pyrolysis conditions. <ref name=Iqbal>Iqbal H, Garcia-Perez M, Flury M. Effect of biochar on leaching of organic carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus from compost in bioretention systems. Science of the Total Environment. 2015;521-522: 37-45. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.03.060</ref>

==How is it being used?==

==How is it being used?==

No evidence was found of biochar being used for LID projects in Ontario.

No evidence was found of biochar being used for LID projects in Ontario.

==Benefits==

==Benefits==

One study states that the mixing of biochar with compost did not decrease the [[phosphorus]] leaching from the mixture. <ref name=Iqbal/> Based on this study, it would seem that biochar is ineffective for phosphorus removal. However, some other papers indicate that biochar mixed with sand was able to retain some trace organic contaminants (TOrCs), <ref>Ulrich B, Im E, Werner D, Higgins C. Biochar and Activated Carbon for Enhanced Trace Organic Contaminant Retention in Stormwater Infiltration Systems. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2015;49:6222-6230. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.5b00376.</ref> and that after six months of operation, biochar-amended [[biofilters]] improved removal of total dissolved phosphorus and other TOrCs by greater than 60%. <ref>Ulrich B, Loehnert M, Higgins C. Improved contaminant removal in vegetated stormwater biofilters amended with biochar. Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol.,2017;3:726-734. doi: 10.1039/C7EW00070G</ref> Amendment of LID systems with biochar has shown promise for improved removal of [[metals]], bacteria, [[nutrients]], and TOrCs. <ref>Ulrich B, Vignola M, Edgehouse K, Werner D, Higgins C. Organic Carbon Amendments for Enhanced Biological Attenuation of Trace Organic Contaminants in Biochar-Amended Stormwater Biofilters. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2017;51:9184-9193. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.7b01164.</ref>

One study states that the mixing of biochar with [[compost]] did not decrease the [[phosphorus]] leaching from the mixture. <ref name=Iqbal/> Based on this study, it would seem that biochar is ineffective for phosphorus removal. However, some other papers indicate that biochar mixed with sand was able to retain some trace organic contaminants (TOrCs), <ref>Ulrich B, Im E, Werner D, Higgins C. Biochar and Activated Carbon for Enhanced Trace Organic Contaminant Retention in Stormwater Infiltration Systems. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2015;49:6222-6230. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.5b00376.</ref> and that after six months of operation, biochar-amended [[biofilters]] improved removal of total dissolved phosphorus and other TOrCs by greater than 60%. <ref>Ulrich B, Loehnert M, Higgins C. Improved contaminant removal in vegetated stormwater biofilters amended with biochar. Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol.,2017;3:726-734. doi: 10.1039/C7EW00070G</ref> Amendment of LID systems with biochar has shown promise for improved removal of [[metals]], bacteria, [[nutrients]], and TOrCs. <ref>Ulrich B, Vignola M, Edgehouse K, Werner D, Higgins C. Organic Carbon Amendments for Enhanced Biological Attenuation of Trace Organic Contaminants in Biochar-Amended Stormwater Biofilters. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2017;51:9184-9193. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.7b01164.</ref>

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[[category: materials]]

[[category: materials]]

[[category: phosphorus]]

[[category: phosphorus]]

[[category: water quality]]

[[category: water quality]]