Influence of sodium hydroxide addition on characteristics and environmental risk of heavy metals in biochars derived from swine manure

Abstract In order to improve characteristics of biochar, especially enhance immobilization of heavy metals in biochar, swine manure was pyrolyzed at low pyrolysis temperature (300 °C, 400 °C and 500 °C) with different amounts of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) added (0.5% and 2%, W/W). Results showed that NaOH addition during pyrolysis increased the pH, EC, ash content, yield rate, aromaticity and hydrophily, but did not increase surface area and porosity of resultant biochars. The addition of NaOH promoted the transformation of the mobile fraction of Cu, Zn and Cd into the oxidizable fraction. With respect to Cr and Pb, the oxidizable and residual fractions were increased slightly by the presence of NaOH. Meanwhile, adding NaOH could reduce the leachability and ecological risks of heavy metals in biochars. Our study suggested that NaOH-assisted pyrolysis of swine manure was an effective disposal approach for the immobilization of heavy metals.