Developing an activated biochar-mineral supplement for reducing methane formation in anaerobic fermentation
Abstract The effects of biochar on methane emissions from soils are well understood. However, biochar effects on methane production from livestock have received less attention. In this study, a biochar-mineral supplement for livestock was developed by pyrolyzing a mixture of wheat straw, aluminosili...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Springer
2025-02-01
|
| Series: | Biochar |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s42773-024-00403-5 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1823861695933579264 |
|---|---|
| author | Sara Tahery Mariano C. Parra Paul Munroe David R. G. Mitchell Sarah J. Meale Stephen Joseph |
| author_facet | Sara Tahery Mariano C. Parra Paul Munroe David R. G. Mitchell Sarah J. Meale Stephen Joseph |
| author_sort | Sara Tahery |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The effects of biochar on methane emissions from soils are well understood. However, biochar effects on methane production from livestock have received less attention. In this study, a biochar-mineral supplement for livestock was developed by pyrolyzing a mixture of wheat straw, aluminosilicates, iron sulfate, and zinc oxide at 600 ℃. The supplement was then activated using peracetic and propionic acids, and potassium nitrate. The activated biochar-mineral supplement was characterized using analytical techniques. A high surface area, a high concentration of oxygen-containing functional groups, and a high concentration of free radicals, associated with O and Fe unpaired electrons, assisted the supplement with catalysing the oxidation of methane. Microstructural analysis of the supplement suggested the formation of organo-mineral phases, rich in C, O, Fe, Si, Al, K and Ca, indicating that the biochar reacted with mineral additives to preserve them. To assess the potential of the supplement to reduce methane produced form livestock, an in vitro batch culture incubation was conducted (n = 3) with rumen fluid sourced from Holstein–Friesian steers. The supplement was incubated at inclusion rates of 0% (control), 1.5%, 4.0% and 6.0% of dry matter (DM), with a Rhodes grass hay substrate. Compared to the control, the supplement reduced cumulative gas production by 10.1% and 12.7% and methane production by 19.03% and 29.32% after 48 h when included at 4.0% and 6.0% DM (P < 0.05), respectively, without causing any detrimental impacts on fermentation parameters. The supplement assisted with reducing the concentration of dissolved mineral nutrients, such as P and Mg, when included at 4.0% and 6.0% DM (P < 0.05). Graphical abstract |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-055c2e67f15a4a61b6997c909c6615cf |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2524-7867 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Springer |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Biochar |
| spelling | doaj-art-055c2e67f15a4a61b6997c909c6615cf2025-02-09T12:48:53ZengSpringerBiochar2524-78672025-02-017111710.1007/s42773-024-00403-5Developing an activated biochar-mineral supplement for reducing methane formation in anaerobic fermentationSara Tahery0Mariano C. Parra1Paul Munroe2David R. G. Mitchell3Sarah J. Meale4Stephen Joseph5School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of New South Wales (UNSW)School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of QueenslandSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, University of New South Wales (UNSW)Electron Microscopy Centre, Innovation Campus, AIIM Building, University of WollongongSchool of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of QueenslandSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, University of New South Wales (UNSW)Abstract The effects of biochar on methane emissions from soils are well understood. However, biochar effects on methane production from livestock have received less attention. In this study, a biochar-mineral supplement for livestock was developed by pyrolyzing a mixture of wheat straw, aluminosilicates, iron sulfate, and zinc oxide at 600 ℃. The supplement was then activated using peracetic and propionic acids, and potassium nitrate. The activated biochar-mineral supplement was characterized using analytical techniques. A high surface area, a high concentration of oxygen-containing functional groups, and a high concentration of free radicals, associated with O and Fe unpaired electrons, assisted the supplement with catalysing the oxidation of methane. Microstructural analysis of the supplement suggested the formation of organo-mineral phases, rich in C, O, Fe, Si, Al, K and Ca, indicating that the biochar reacted with mineral additives to preserve them. To assess the potential of the supplement to reduce methane produced form livestock, an in vitro batch culture incubation was conducted (n = 3) with rumen fluid sourced from Holstein–Friesian steers. The supplement was incubated at inclusion rates of 0% (control), 1.5%, 4.0% and 6.0% of dry matter (DM), with a Rhodes grass hay substrate. Compared to the control, the supplement reduced cumulative gas production by 10.1% and 12.7% and methane production by 19.03% and 29.32% after 48 h when included at 4.0% and 6.0% DM (P < 0.05), respectively, without causing any detrimental impacts on fermentation parameters. The supplement assisted with reducing the concentration of dissolved mineral nutrients, such as P and Mg, when included at 4.0% and 6.0% DM (P < 0.05). Graphical abstracthttps://doi.org/10.1007/s42773-024-00403-5Activated biochar-mineral supplementCharacterisationMethane emissionsDissolved nutrients |
| spellingShingle | Sara Tahery Mariano C. Parra Paul Munroe David R. G. Mitchell Sarah J. Meale Stephen Joseph Developing an activated biochar-mineral supplement for reducing methane formation in anaerobic fermentation Biochar Activated biochar-mineral supplement Characterisation Methane emissions Dissolved nutrients |
| title | Developing an activated biochar-mineral supplement for reducing methane formation in anaerobic fermentation |
| title_full | Developing an activated biochar-mineral supplement for reducing methane formation in anaerobic fermentation |
| title_fullStr | Developing an activated biochar-mineral supplement for reducing methane formation in anaerobic fermentation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Developing an activated biochar-mineral supplement for reducing methane formation in anaerobic fermentation |
| title_short | Developing an activated biochar-mineral supplement for reducing methane formation in anaerobic fermentation |
| title_sort | developing an activated biochar mineral supplement for reducing methane formation in anaerobic fermentation |
| topic | Activated biochar-mineral supplement Characterisation Methane emissions Dissolved nutrients |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1007/s42773-024-00403-5 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT saratahery developinganactivatedbiocharmineralsupplementforreducingmethaneformationinanaerobicfermentation AT marianocparra developinganactivatedbiocharmineralsupplementforreducingmethaneformationinanaerobicfermentation AT paulmunroe developinganactivatedbiocharmineralsupplementforreducingmethaneformationinanaerobicfermentation AT davidrgmitchell developinganactivatedbiocharmineralsupplementforreducingmethaneformationinanaerobicfermentation AT sarahjmeale developinganactivatedbiocharmineralsupplementforreducingmethaneformationinanaerobicfermentation AT stephenjoseph developinganactivatedbiocharmineralsupplementforreducingmethaneformationinanaerobicfermentation |