CSIRO Publishing blank image blank image blank image blank imageBooksblank image blank image blank image blank imageJournalsblank image blank image blank image blank imageAbout Usblank image blank image blank image blank imageShopping Cartblank image blank image blank image You are here: Journals > Soil Research   
Soil Research
Journal Banner
  Soil, Land Care & Environmental Research
 
blank image Search
 
blank image blank image
blank image
 
  Advanced Search
   

Journal Home
About the Journal
Editorial Board
Contacts
For Advertisers
Content
Online Early
Current Issue
Just Accepted
All Issues
Special Issues
Sample Issue
For Authors
General Information
Notice to Authors
Submit Article
Open Access
For Referees
Referee Guidelines
Review Article
Annual Referee Index
For Subscribers
Subscription Prices
Customer Service
Print Publication Dates

blue arrow e-Alerts
blank image
Subscribe to our Email Alert or RSS feeds for the latest journal papers.

red arrow Connect with us
blank image
facebook   youtube

Now Online

Land Resources Surveys


 

Article << Previous     |     Next >>   Contents Vol 48(7)

Microscopic characterisation of synthetic Terra Preta

Chee Hung Chia A, Paul Munroe A B, Stephen Joseph A, Yun Lin A

A School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of NSW, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
B Corresponding author. Email: p.munroe@unsw.edu.au
 
PDF (7.3 MB) $25
 Export Citation
 Print
  


Abstract

Amazonian Dark Earths (Terra Preta) are anthropogenic soils with high organic carbon content and the ability to sustain higher fertility than adjacent, intensely weathered, acidic soils. Consequently, the microstructural development of biochar–mineral complexes, termed synthetic Terra Preta (STP), has been investigated. Here, biochar–mineral complexes are produced at elevated temperatures to mimic the structure of Terra Preta. These materials, if added to soils, may then also improve fertility. The raw materials used in STP were organic biowaste, such as sawdust, chicken manure, and blood and bone, and inorganic minerals such as kaolinite, bentonite, and cement kiln dust (which consists mainly of calcite). The STP samples were characterised using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and associated microchemical analytical methods, to gain an understanding of the interactions that occurred during processing between the organic and inorganic phases. The STP specimens exhibited microstructures that closely resemble Terra Preta. SEM and TEM revealed a complex aggregation of phases, together with evidence of the interfacial reactions, especially at higher processing temperatures. It is anticipated then that STP may be as effective in promoting plant growth and in sequestering carbon as Terra Preta

Keywords: XPS, NMR, biochar.


   
Subscriber Login
Username:
Password:  

    
Legal & Privacy | Contact Us | Help

CSIRO

© CSIRO 1996-2013