Abstract:
The pyrolysis of biomass into biochar can served as nutrient absorbent in soil to counter
excessive leaching problem commonly faced by agriculture sector in tropical region. The present
study investigated the particle size of biochar on the sorption of ammonium N (NH4
+
-N), nitrate
N (NO3
-
-N), phosphate P (PO4
3-
), and iron (Fe3+). Four biochars were produced from oil palm
empty fruit bunch (EFB), oil palm kernel shell (KRN), rice husk (RH), and bamboo (BMB),
which sieved into two groups with particle size of 1-2 mm and <0.3 mm. Biochar physical and
chemical properties were determined. The ability of biochars to adsorb NH4
+
followed: BMB >
RH > EFB while no sorption was observed in KRN. The sorption characteristics of NH4
+ were
well fitted to the Freundlich isotherm model. Overall sorption of NO3
-
favours fine particle and
were well-fitted into Langmuir model followed the maximum sorption capacity of: BMB > EFB
> KRN > RH. Sorption of PO4
3-
on the other hand performed poorly among all tested biochar
while sorption of Fe3+ were generally favourable in fine particle and best-fitted in Langmuir
model with the maximum sorption capacity followed: EFB > RH > KRN > BMB. |
