**5. Application of biochar and environmental safety standards**

Legal standards, ab initio have been set on environmental matters, part of which includes biochar. Biochar in many countries is regarded as waste or fertilizers which have been guided by regulations and legal statements. Although, biochar may not appear in the legislation of many countries, even in the European Union (EU), but the law and regulations about waste control is in the offing of the constitutions of many nations across the world; though a few have gone beyond implementation.

In reality, biochar is considered as waste, but in several literatures, it is usually considered as a by-product of carbonization. Waste, according to the EU, is defined as any product that is supposed to be discarded or any substance the holder proposes to discard. The Waste Act of the EU therefore specifies that any waste that undergoes a recycling process and meet the following conditions may not be regarded as waste. These conditions are:


Furthermore, other conditions whereby biochar cannot be regarded as waste are:


Apart from the existence of biochar as a by-product, it could also portray the picture of a product if it has been produced as the major product from the biomass raw material specifically designed for the process of that biochar production. Thus, the Waste Act is less concerned about the concept of using the biochar as product or by-product since biochar is not specifically mentioned in the Waste Act. The only country that has specific regulations about biochar is the Switzerland where biochar is permitted to be used in agriculture [26]. There is the European Biochar Certificate (EBC) which is recommended by the EU but only Switzerland has included the certification in their law in the use of biochar [7].

However, in Poland, the use of biochar as fertilizer or for the amelioration of soil must be preceded with the completed and signed approval form from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development with the exception of the use of biochar for research purposes [25].

## **6. Applications of biochar for soil sustainability**

In the face of declining soil infertility, climate change and human anthropogenic activities have made situation worse. However, several organic products have been introduced as part of the palliatives to lessen soil burden. Among these products is biochar which has been used as a popular choice for remediation of soil. Application of biochar to the environment is not detrimental because biochar samples have been found to contain several polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons that are environmentally friendly. Pollutant compounds and toxic chemicals are yet to be found in the feedstocks used in the production of biochar [27].

However, acceptable proportions and amounts of biochar need to be determined through approved methods and environmental risk assessment so that the addition to land and aquatic bodies will be safe for the environment. The type of soil also needs to be considered to determine if specific physicochemical property of biochar is required for specific type of soil. The carbon sequestering potential of the biochar product is important for the determination of the amount of carbon sequestered for the purpose of evaluating the greenhouse gas effects and mitigating

**149**

*Enhancement of Soil Health Using Biochar DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.92711*

the biochar-soil-climate interactions [19, 29].

**7. Soil enhancement tendencies of biochar**

**7.1 Absorption tendencies of biochar**

substance adsorption by biochar.

**7.2 Soil amelioration of biochar**

process of application [32].

be reduced to reasonable amounts by biochar [11, 23, 29].

in this chapter.

global warming [28, 29]. The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) of the Kyoto Protocol is a model for the approval of materials involved in waste management. If biochar is approved by the CDM, then there is certainty of global commercial use. Fewer studies have been done to support the use of biochar when some studies have been skeptical about its use due to the ignorance of the interactions that take place between biochar and the soil. Therefore, there is need for innovations to create models that will be required for the assessing locations and soil types to determine

Biochar has been effective on the soil in recent years through the evaluation of the soil quality after application to the soil. It has been observed that after application to the soil, the soil nutrients have been retained and soil quality improved. As earlier mentioned, the porous nature of the biochar, among other qualities has made the product to be a good soil conditioner and enhancer in recent years [30]. Some of these physicochemical properties exceptional of biochar will be discussed in details

Biochar has been found to be a very good absorbent for the removal of excess pharmaceutical components from the environment. The kinds of pharmaceuticals that have been found to be removed by biochar are glyphosate, ibuprofen, atrazine, acetaminophen, and caffeine [9, 16, 31]. The excess release of pharmaceuticals into the environment has been a major risk factor for the resistance of microorganisms to antimicrobials. The rapid absorption tendency of biochar has therefore contributed immensely to the removal of these excess antimicrobials from the environment [10]. Toxins and unwanted drugs from the gastrointestinal tract have been shown to

Furthermore, biochar has also been used to remediate waste fruit candy extract using deionized water as solvent with the aim of reusing the candy waste for the production of organic acids. The electrostatic interaction between polar and nonpolar groups enhances the adsorption potential on organic substances by biochar. **Figure 2** reveals the mechanism of adsorption of organic substances by biochar. However, the adsorption of inorganic substances like heavy metals by biochar or activated carbon involves mechanisms like ion exchange, precipitation, cationic anionic metal attraction [29–31]. **Figure 3** shows the mechanisms of inorganic

Biochar has been known to be a good enhancer of the soil due to its rich content of carbon and other nutrients good enough for the soil. Prior to the addition of biochar to soil, plant growth has not been optimum; but after the addition of biochar, the rate of growth of the plants on the same soil has been with optimum yield. A major advantage of biochar for soil amelioration is cost effectiveness and efficient

However, the feedstocks used in the production of biochar determine its efficiency and nutritive value. It also determines the proportion of the micro and macro-nutrients present in the biochar which resultantly affects the interactive patterns between the carboniferous biochar and organic as well as inorganic particles in the soil [29].

*Enhancement of Soil Health Using Biochar DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.92711*

*Applications of Biochar for Environmental Safety*

• If the product meets the standard and specific requirement set out for the

• If the product itself or the use of it does no harm to the environment and to the

Biochar may also be classified as a by-product if it meets the above conditions.

Furthermore, other conditions whereby biochar cannot be regarded as waste are:

• If the use of the product does not cause long-term defects on the living and

• If the biochar can be used without any further processing or manipulation

• If the use of the biochar will not constitute an environmental nuisance or

Apart from the existence of biochar as a by-product, it could also portray the picture of a product if it has been produced as the major product from the biomass raw material specifically designed for the process of that biochar production. Thus, the Waste Act is less concerned about the concept of using the biochar as product or by-product since biochar is not specifically mentioned in the Waste Act. The only country that has specific regulations about biochar is the Switzerland where biochar is permitted to be used in agriculture [26]. There is the European Biochar Certificate (EBC) which is recommended by the EU but only Switzerland has included the

However, in Poland, the use of biochar as fertilizer or for the amelioration of soil must be preceded with the completed and signed approval form from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development with the exception of the use of biochar for

In the face of declining soil infertility, climate change and human anthropogenic activities have made situation worse. However, several organic products have been introduced as part of the palliatives to lessen soil burden. Among these products is biochar which has been used as a popular choice for remediation of soil. Application of biochar to the environment is not detrimental because biochar samples have been found to contain several polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons that are environmentally friendly. Pollutant compounds and toxic chemicals are yet to be found in the

However, acceptable proportions and amounts of biochar need to be determined

through approved methods and environmental risk assessment so that the addition to land and aquatic bodies will be safe for the environment. The type of soil also needs to be considered to determine if specific physicochemical property of biochar is required for specific type of soil. The carbon sequestering potential of the biochar product is important for the determination of the amount of carbon sequestered for the purpose of evaluating the greenhouse gas effects and mitigating

• If the biochar is an integral entity of the manufacturing process

application of such product to the environment [23, 24]

nonliving entities in the environment [6, 22]

• If it is certain that the biochar can be reused

certification in their law in the use of biochar [7].

**6. Applications of biochar for soil sustainability**

feedstocks used in the production of biochar [27].

health hazard [25]

research purposes [25].

people directly or indirectly affected by the product or its use

**148**

global warming [28, 29]. The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) of the Kyoto Protocol is a model for the approval of materials involved in waste management. If biochar is approved by the CDM, then there is certainty of global commercial use. Fewer studies have been done to support the use of biochar when some studies have been skeptical about its use due to the ignorance of the interactions that take place between biochar and the soil. Therefore, there is need for innovations to create models that will be required for the assessing locations and soil types to determine the biochar-soil-climate interactions [19, 29].

### **7. Soil enhancement tendencies of biochar**

Biochar has been effective on the soil in recent years through the evaluation of the soil quality after application to the soil. It has been observed that after application to the soil, the soil nutrients have been retained and soil quality improved. As earlier mentioned, the porous nature of the biochar, among other qualities has made the product to be a good soil conditioner and enhancer in recent years [30]. Some of these physicochemical properties exceptional of biochar will be discussed in details in this chapter.

### **7.1 Absorption tendencies of biochar**

Biochar has been found to be a very good absorbent for the removal of excess pharmaceutical components from the environment. The kinds of pharmaceuticals that have been found to be removed by biochar are glyphosate, ibuprofen, atrazine, acetaminophen, and caffeine [9, 16, 31]. The excess release of pharmaceuticals into the environment has been a major risk factor for the resistance of microorganisms to antimicrobials. The rapid absorption tendency of biochar has therefore contributed immensely to the removal of these excess antimicrobials from the environment [10]. Toxins and unwanted drugs from the gastrointestinal tract have been shown to be reduced to reasonable amounts by biochar [11, 23, 29].

Furthermore, biochar has also been used to remediate waste fruit candy extract using deionized water as solvent with the aim of reusing the candy waste for the production of organic acids. The electrostatic interaction between polar and nonpolar groups enhances the adsorption potential on organic substances by biochar. **Figure 2** reveals the mechanism of adsorption of organic substances by biochar. However, the adsorption of inorganic substances like heavy metals by biochar or activated carbon involves mechanisms like ion exchange, precipitation, cationic anionic metal attraction [29–31]. **Figure 3** shows the mechanisms of inorganic substance adsorption by biochar.

### **7.2 Soil amelioration of biochar**

Biochar has been known to be a good enhancer of the soil due to its rich content of carbon and other nutrients good enough for the soil. Prior to the addition of biochar to soil, plant growth has not been optimum; but after the addition of biochar, the rate of growth of the plants on the same soil has been with optimum yield. A major advantage of biochar for soil amelioration is cost effectiveness and efficient process of application [32].

However, the feedstocks used in the production of biochar determine its efficiency and nutritive value. It also determines the proportion of the micro and macro-nutrients present in the biochar which resultantly affects the interactive patterns between the carboniferous biochar and organic as well as inorganic particles in the soil [29].

### **Figure 3.**

Biochar from wood, poultry litter and cattle manure was discovered to produce the highest yield in cowpea, radish and maize plantations, respectively [28–31]. Certain characteristics of biochar that facilitates the enhancement of the soil includes its nature of rejecting biodegradation which makes it to spend more time within the soil for proper and effective carbon sequestration, thus making it an effective moderator for carbon dioxide in the soil. However, the presence of biochar in the soil tends to increase the amount of biogenic substances in the soil. Nonetheless, substances like phosphorus and potassium are bonded and chelated with biochars to avoid excess leaching of these substances

**151**

**Figure 4.**

*Soil enhancement through biochar addition [35].*

*Enhancement of Soil Health Using Biochar DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.92711*

increasing soil yield [35].

**7.3 Enhanced nitrogen fertilizer**

complete the biogenic and geogenic cycles.

into the environment [33]. The ion-exchange properties of biochars also enable the exchange and replacement of organic and inorganic substances that helps to

Additionally, biochar is a booster for the silicon cycle by supplying biogenic silica, also known as phytoliths into the soil. Likewise, it also helps in balancing the phosphorus and nitrogen cycle by the ion-exchange storage of phosphorus and nitrogen respectively in their compound forms [34]. Thus, when ammonia and ammonium compounds are trapped in the soil by biochars, it reduces the process of the formation of nitrous oxides, thereby reducing the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Furthermore, by trapping more nitrogen in the soil, it increases the productivity rate of nitrogen-fixing bacteria in the soil, thereby

Biochars also increase the pH of the soil due to the presence of carbonized compounds like calcium carbonate [23, 30]. This may not be too beneficial in temperate regions where the soil pH is always tending toward the right side of the scale; but in the acid tropical soil regions, biochars are mostly used to regulate the pH of the soil. Due to the physical porous nature of biochars, they also affect the physical structure of soils thereby affecting the soil's retention capacity [36]. Therefore, such a soil is able to retain water at a very high rate but at the same time, forms aggregates and increases the capacity to resist erosion. **Figure 4** shows how soil enhancement can be achieved through biochar addition. Thus, with the combined effect of porosity and carbonization, biochar-in-soil is a favorable substrate for microorganisms to thrive on in the soil. *Nitrobacter* and *Nitrosomonas* spp. are suspected to thrive better in such biochar-laden soils due to the presence of trapped nitrogen by biochar [2, 4, 33]. Subsequently, there would be high micro-

Fertilizers and water need to be supplied increasingly as food and agricultural practices keep increasing. The rate at which population increases demands that more food should be supplied; hence, more fertilizer is needed. Over the years, the supply of nitrogen has been insufficient and mismanaged; thus, there is need to improve the supply of nitrogen and device affordable means of sustaining the

bial stimulation and efficient nitrogen mineralization in that soil.

### *Enhancement of Soil Health Using Biochar DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.92711*

*Applications of Biochar for Environmental Safety*

*Mechanism of adsorption of organic substances by biochar [31].*

**150**

**Figure 3.**

*Mechanism of inorganic adsorption by biochar [31].*

**Figure 2.**

Biochar from wood, poultry litter and cattle manure was discovered to produce the highest yield in cowpea, radish and maize plantations, respectively [28–31]. Certain characteristics of biochar that facilitates the enhancement of the soil includes its nature of rejecting biodegradation which makes it to spend more time within the soil for proper and effective carbon sequestration, thus making it an effective moderator for carbon dioxide in the soil. However, the presence of biochar in the soil tends to increase the amount of biogenic substances in the soil. Nonetheless, substances like phosphorus and potassium are bonded and chelated with biochars to avoid excess leaching of these substances

into the environment [33]. The ion-exchange properties of biochars also enable the exchange and replacement of organic and inorganic substances that helps to complete the biogenic and geogenic cycles.

Additionally, biochar is a booster for the silicon cycle by supplying biogenic silica, also known as phytoliths into the soil. Likewise, it also helps in balancing the phosphorus and nitrogen cycle by the ion-exchange storage of phosphorus and nitrogen respectively in their compound forms [34]. Thus, when ammonia and ammonium compounds are trapped in the soil by biochars, it reduces the process of the formation of nitrous oxides, thereby reducing the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Furthermore, by trapping more nitrogen in the soil, it increases the productivity rate of nitrogen-fixing bacteria in the soil, thereby increasing soil yield [35].

Biochars also increase the pH of the soil due to the presence of carbonized compounds like calcium carbonate [23, 30]. This may not be too beneficial in temperate regions where the soil pH is always tending toward the right side of the scale; but in the acid tropical soil regions, biochars are mostly used to regulate the pH of the soil. Due to the physical porous nature of biochars, they also affect the physical structure of soils thereby affecting the soil's retention capacity [36]. Therefore, such a soil is able to retain water at a very high rate but at the same time, forms aggregates and increases the capacity to resist erosion. **Figure 4** shows how soil enhancement can be achieved through biochar addition. Thus, with the combined effect of porosity and carbonization, biochar-in-soil is a favorable substrate for microorganisms to thrive on in the soil. *Nitrobacter* and *Nitrosomonas* spp. are suspected to thrive better in such biochar-laden soils due to the presence of trapped nitrogen by biochar [2, 4, 33]. Subsequently, there would be high microbial stimulation and efficient nitrogen mineralization in that soil.
