Properties and application of organic matter extracted from hydrochar and process water obtened of the hydrothermal carbonization of sugarcane bagasse and vinasse

• Grant number: 21/12214-1
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Duration: July 01, 2022 - April 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Analytical Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Altair Benedito Moreira
• Grantee: Altair Benedito Moreira
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências, Letras e Ciências Exatas (IBILCE). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de São José do Rio Preto. São José do Rio Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Hydrothermal Carbonization (HTC) of biomass from the sugar-energy industry generates hydrochar that can be used as a soil conditioner and process water that is rich in nutrients and has organic matter with a high capacity to form stable complexes with metallic species, be used as a chelating material in foliar fertilizers. In view of the above, this project aims to study the effect of humic-like substances (HLS) extracted from hydrochar, as well as process water obtained from HTC from sugarcane bagasse and vinasse, in order to evaluate the use of HLS as structuring material (chelating) in foliar fertilizer in lettuce and tomato cultivation. The HTC of sugarcane bagasse and vinasse will be conducted at a temperature of 232 °C for 13 hours, in the presence of two additives, phosphoric acid (1% v/v) and potassium hydroxide (4% v/v ). The HLS extracted from hydrochar and process water will be characterized and used as an additive in foliar fertilizer for lettuce and tomato growth studies. The foliar fertilizer will be used in 2 ways: (i) foliar application of STH extracted from process water with nutrients, (ii) foliar application of HLS extracted from hydrochar with nutrients. The nutrient source will be obtained from a commercial Solo Rico Titanium Complete® foliar fertilizer as a reference. The plant growth studies will be mounted in quadruplicate in a Plant Growth Chamber with controlled temperature and humidity and monitoring of total chlorophyll after the application of foliar fertilizer. At the end of the experiment, the determination of dry mass and length of roots and shoots will be carried out, as well as the characterization using optical and scanning microscopy of the shoot. It is expected at the end of this research that the HLS extracted from hydrochar and process water can be used as an additive in foliar fertilizer. (AU)