University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Sorption Properties of Greenwaste Biochar for Two Triazine Pesticides

Zheng, Wei; Guo, Mingxin; Chow, Teresa; Bennett, Douglas N.; Rajagopalan, Nandakishore

Permalink

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/106033

Description

Title
Sorption Properties of Greenwaste Biochar for Two Triazine Pesticides
Author(s)
  • Zheng, Wei
  • Guo, Mingxin
  • Chow, Teresa
  • Bennett, Douglas N.
  • Rajagopalan, Nandakishore
Issue Date
2010
Keyword(s)
  • Biochar
  • Atrazine
  • Simazine
  • Pesticides -- Environmental aspects
Abstract
"This work by ISTC’s Wei Zheng and Kishore Rajagopalan and collaborators from Delaware State University provides innovative solutions for producing energy and food in a sustainable environment. Renewable energy can be produced by converting greenwaste such as using highway grass clippings for gasoline or biodiesel through a process called pyrolysis (heating to 450°C with limited oxygen) and then implementing some refining techniques. However, the pyrolysis process produces a byproduct called biochar, which is a carbon-rich substance similar to activated carbon. The biochar byproduct could be landfilled, but the researchers have a better idea.The other aspect of this research is determining how to produce food without contaminating the environment. The researchers considered two common pesticides. Atrazine and simazine are used as broad-spectrum pesticides/herbicides for agricultural, recreational, and residential uses, but the most common use is for field crop applications. These pesticides can inadvertently contaminate water ways and water bodies from rain events and soil erosion. To prevent this contamination, the researchers proposed mixing biochar into the soil to prevent pesticide/herbicide loss from the field. Full results published in Zheng, Wei, et al (2010). ""Sorption properties of greenwaste biochar for two triazine pesticides."" Journal of Hazardous Materials 181(1-3), 121-126. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2010.04.103"
Publisher
Champaign, IL : Illinois Sustainable Technology Center
Series/Report Name or Number
Pollutants -- Agricultural chemicals
Type of Resource
text
Language
en
Permalink
  • https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2010.04.103
  • http://hdl.handle.net/2142/106033

Owning Collections

Research Projects -- Illinois Sustainable Technology Center PRIMARY
Completed research projects done by Illinois Sustainable Technology Center staff