Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-20960
Publication type: Article in scientific journal
Type of review: Peer review (publication)
Title: Pyrolysis of dry toilet substrate as a means of nutrient recycling in agricultural systems : potential risks and benefits
Authors: Bleuler, Mira
Gold, Moritz
Strande, Linda
Schönborn, Andreas
et. al: No
DOI: 10.1007/s12649-020-01220-0
10.21256/zhaw-20960
Published in: Waste and Biomass Valorization
Volume(Issue): 2020
Issue: 12
Page(s): 4171
Pages to: 4183
Issue Date: 20-Oct-2020
Publisher / Ed. Institution: Springer
ISSN: 1877-2641
1877-265X
Language: English
Subjects: Biochar; Dry toilet; Pyrolysis; Germination test; Nutrient recycling; Sanitation
Subject (DDC): 540: Chemistry
Abstract: Biochar is increasingly being applied as a soil amendment in agriculture. Biochar is typically produced from plant biomass and contains relatively low amounts of plant nutrients (e.g., N, P, and K), thus providing limited fertilizer value. Human excreta contains plant nutrients that could be recycled to create sustainable agricultural nutrient cycles. This study investigated the potential of biochar derived from a dry toilet substrate as soil amendment. The substrate consisted of urine, faeces, and wood chips, and was pyrolyzed at 500–650 °C for 10 min. The biochar was analyzed for plant available P, water leachable P and K, carbon stability, pH, electrical conductivity, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dioxins, and germination tests with barley and lettuce were conducted to estimate the biochar fertilizer value and potential bio-toxicity. The biochar contained 25.0 ± 1.0 g N/kg dry mass (DM), 33.1 ± 2.1 g P/kg DM and 20.7 ± 0.2 g K/kg DM. 65% DM P was extractable by formic acid solution, 31.7% DM P and 60.5% DM K were water leachable in a ten-day column water-leaching experiment. The biochar complied with European regulations for PAHs, PCBs, dioxins and heavy metal concentrations, except for Zn and Ni. Germination of salt-resistant barley was not affected by biochar doses < 50% DM, while salt-sensitive lettuce germination was inhibited at doses ≥ 2% DM, indicating that the dry toilet substrate biochar induced salt stress. Based on these results, it is recommended that urine separation should be considered for biochar of excreta, which could reduce salt stress while maintaining concentrations of “fixed” or bioavailable nitrogen.
URI: https://digitalcollection.zhaw.ch/handle/11475/20960
Fulltext version: Published version
License (according to publishing contract): CC BY 4.0: Attribution 4.0 International
Departement: Life Sciences and Facility Management
Organisational Unit: Institute of Natural Resource Sciences (IUNR)
Appears in collections:Publikationen Life Sciences und Facility Management

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Bleuler, M., Gold, M., Strande, L., & Schönborn, A. (2020). Pyrolysis of dry toilet substrate as a means of nutrient recycling in agricultural systems : potential risks and benefits. Waste and Biomass Valorization, 2020(12), 4171–4183. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12649-020-01220-0
Bleuler, M. et al. (2020) ‘Pyrolysis of dry toilet substrate as a means of nutrient recycling in agricultural systems : potential risks and benefits’, Waste and Biomass Valorization, 2020(12), pp. 4171–4183. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12649-020-01220-0.
M. Bleuler, M. Gold, L. Strande, and A. Schönborn, “Pyrolysis of dry toilet substrate as a means of nutrient recycling in agricultural systems : potential risks and benefits,” Waste and Biomass Valorization, vol. 2020, no. 12, pp. 4171–4183, Oct. 2020, doi: 10.1007/s12649-020-01220-0.
BLEULER, Mira, Moritz GOLD, Linda STRANDE und Andreas SCHÖNBORN, 2020. Pyrolysis of dry toilet substrate as a means of nutrient recycling in agricultural systems : potential risks and benefits. Waste and Biomass Valorization. 20 Oktober 2020. Bd. 2020, Nr. 12, S. 4171–4183. DOI 10.1007/s12649-020-01220-0
Bleuler, Mira, Moritz Gold, Linda Strande, and Andreas Schönborn. 2020. “Pyrolysis of Dry Toilet Substrate as a Means of Nutrient Recycling in Agricultural Systems : Potential Risks and Benefits.” Waste and Biomass Valorization 2020 (12): 4171–83. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12649-020-01220-0.
Bleuler, Mira, et al. “Pyrolysis of Dry Toilet Substrate as a Means of Nutrient Recycling in Agricultural Systems : Potential Risks and Benefits.” Waste and Biomass Valorization, vol. 2020, no. 12, Oct. 2020, pp. 4171–83, https://doi.org/10.1007/s12649-020-01220-0.


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