Biochar Engineering - Preparation and Characterization of microspheres for slow releasing of nutrients and bacteria

• Grant number: 13/08373-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): August 01, 2013
• Effective date (End): April 30, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Interdisciplinary Subjects
• Principal Investigator: André Henrique Rosa
• Grantee: Carolina de Castro Bueno
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciência e Tecnologia. Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Sorocaba. Sorocaba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The usage of slow nutrients release systems in agricultural practice has proven to be a viable and sustainable practice to increase the performance and efficiency of crops, as well as to the quality of the harvest. In this context, this project is based on the preparation, characterization, and on the performance evaluation of polymeric alginate microspheres containing biochar to immobilize and slow release of rock phosphate and plant growth-promoting bacteria. To achieve this objective, biochar will be prepared from the calcination of sugarcane bagasse and the remaining biomass of corn crops at different temperatures (300-700°C) to promote the sorption of phosphate ions. The preparation conditions of the microspheres will be optimized by varying the pH of biochar in order to facilitate the immobilization and slow release of the species of interest. The characterization of microspheres (Alginate-Biochar-Phosphorus-Bacteria) will be through Scanning Electron Microscopy, Atomic Force Spectroscopy and Microscopy, and Differential Scanning Calorimetry. Quantification of the rock phosphate and bacteria released over time from microspheres containing biochar will be evaluated by comparing the control experiments (without biochar) in vitro and in cornfield using the method of Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES). Thus, this project aims to open a new multidisciplinary perspective associated with Biochar Engineering and its use to increase the fertility of the land for agricultural practice, as well as to improve their microbiological parameters, thus increasing the quality and productivity of crops sustainably, by using smaller amounts of fertilizers.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

MONTERO, JOSE IGNACIO Z.; MONTEIRO, ADNIVIA S. C.; GONTIJO, ERIK S. J.; BUENO, CAROLINA C.; DE MORAES, MINEIA A.; ROSA, ANDRE H.. High efficiency removal of As(III) from waters using a new and friendly adsorbent based on sugarcane bagasse and corncob husk Fe-coated biochars. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY, v. 162, p. 616-624, OCT 30 2018. (12/17727-8, 16/08215-4, 13/24168-8, 13/08373-0)

BUENO, CAROLINA C.; MAIA, AMANDA A. D.; DE MORAIS, LEANDRO C.; ROSA, ANDRE H.. Investigation on Prospective Energy Power from Corncob Husk Biomass and its Biochars by Kinetic Parameters and Isoconversional Models. Journal of the Brazilian Chemical Society, v. 28, n. 11, p. 2202-2210, NOV 2017. (13/24168-8, 13/08373-0, 16/08215-4)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

BUENO, Carolina de Castro. Biochar: caracterização estrutural e interações com nutrientes e microorganismos pedológicos. 2017. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp). Instituto de Ciência e Tecnologia. Sorocaba Sorocaba.