Developing an activated biochar-mineral supplement for reducing methane formation in anaerobic fermentation

Abstract

The effects of biochar on methane emissions from soils are well understood. However, biochar effects on methane production from livestock have received less attention. In this study, a biochar-mineral supplement for livestock was developed by pyrolyzing a mixture of wheat straw, aluminosilicates, iron sulfate, and zinc oxide at 600 ℃. The supplement was then activated using peracetic and propionic acids, and potassium nitrate. The activated biochar-mineral supplement was characterized using analytical techniques. A high surface area, a high concentration of oxygen-containing functional groups, and a high concentration of free radicals, associated with O and Fe unpaired electrons, assisted the supplement with catalysing the oxidation of methane. Microstructural analysis of the supplement suggested the formation of organo-mineral phases, rich in C, O, Fe, Si, Al, K and Ca, indicating that the biochar reacted with mineral additives to preserve them. To assess the potential of the supplement to reduce methane produced form livestock, an in vitro batch culture incubation was conducted (n = 3) with rumen fluid sourced from Holstein–Friesian steers. The supplement was incubated at inclusion rates of 0% (control), 1.5%, 4.0% and 6.0% of dry matter (DM), with a Rhodes grass hay substrate. Compared to the control, the supplement reduced cumulative gas production by 10.1% and 12.7% and methane production by 19.03% and 29.32% after 48 h when included at 4.0% and 6.0% DM (P < 0.05), respectively, without causing any detrimental impacts on fermentation parameters. The supplement assisted with reducing the concentration of dissolved mineral nutrients, such as P and Mg, when included at 4.0% and 6.0% DM (P < 0.05).

Graphical abstract

References

[] Amanzougarene Z, Fondevila M. Fitting of the in vitro gas production technique to the study of high concentrate diets. Animals, 2020, 10(10): 1935.

[] Cabeza I, Waterhouse T, Sohi S, Rooke JA. Effect of biochar produced from different biomass sources and at different process temperatures on methane production and ammonia concentrations in vitro. Anim Feed Sci Technol, 2018.

[] Cameron KC, Di HJ. Discovery of a new method to reduce methane emissions from farm dairy effluent. J Soils Sediments, 2021, 21 3543-3555.

[] Cao Y, Wang X, Bai Z, Chadwick D, Misselbrook T, Sommer SG, Qin W, Ma L. Mitigation of ammonia, nitrous oxide and methane emissions during solid waste composting with different additives: a meta-analysis. J Clean Prod, 2019, 235 626-635.

[] Chacon FJ, Sánchez-Monedero MA, Lezama L, Cayuela ML. Enhancing biochar redox properties through feedstock selection, metal preloading and post-pyrolysis treatments. Chem Eng J, 2020, 395. 125100

[] Chaves AV, Thompson LC, Iwaasa AD, Scott SL, Olson ME, Benchaar C, Veira DM, McAllister TA. Effect of pasture type (alfalfa vs. grass) on methane and carbon dioxide production by yearling beef heifers. Can J Anim Sci, 2006, 86 409-418.

[] Chen J, Harstad OM, McAllister T, Dorsch P, Holo H. Propionic acid bacteria enhance ruminal feed degradation and reduce methane production in vitro. Acta Agric Scand Sect A Anim Sci, 2020, 69(3): 169-175.

[] Chen X, Zhu H, Banuelos G, Shutes B, Yan B, Cheng R. Biochar reduces nitrous oxide but increases methane emissions in batch wetland mesocosms. Chem Eng J, 2020, 392. 124842

[] Chew J, Zhu L, Nielsen S, Graber E, Mitchell DRG, Horvat J, Mohammed M, Liu M, van Zwieten L, Donne S, Munroe P, Taherymoosavi S, Pace B, Rawal A, Hook J, Marjo C, Thomas DS, Pan G, Li L, Bian R, McBeath A, Bird M, Thomas T, Husson O, Solaiman Z, Joseph S, Fan X. Biochar-based fertilizer: supercharging root membrane potential and biomass yield of rice. Sci Total Environ, 2020, 713. 136431

[] Czerkawski JW, Breckenridge G. Design and development of a long-term rumen simulation technique (Rusitec). Br J Nutr, 1977, 38(3): 371-384.

[] Dehkhoda AM, Ellis N, Gyenge E. Electrosorption on activated biochar: effect of thermo-chemical activation treatment on the electric double layer capacitance. J Appl Electrochem, 2014, 44 141-157.

[] Duin EC, Wagner T, Shima S, Prakash D, Cronin B, Yanez-Ruiz DR, Duval S, Rumbeli R, Stemmler RT, Thauer RK, Kindermann M. Mode of action uncovered for the specific reduction of methane emissions from ruminants by the small molecule 3-nitrooxypropanol. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 2016, 113(22): 6172-6177.

[] European Biochar Certificate (2022) Guidelines for a Sustainable Production of Biochar. Carbon Standards International (CSI), Frick, Switzerland. http://european-biochar.org

[] Fedorah PM, Hrudey SE. A simple apparatus for measuring gas production by methanogenic cultures in serum bottles. Environ Technol, 1983, 4(10): 425-432.

[] Feng XY, Dijkstra J, Bannink A, van Gastelen S, France J, Kebreab E. Antimethanogenic effects of nitrate supplementation in cattle: a meta-analysis. J Dairy Sci, 2020, 103(12): 11375-11385.

[] Forwood DL, Hooker K, Caro E, Huo Y, Holman DB, Meale SJ, Chaves AV. Crop sorghum ensiled with unsalable vegetables increases silage microbial diversity. Front Microbiol, 2019, 10 2599.

[] Granja-Salcedo YT, Fernandes RM, de Araujo RC, Kishi LT, Berchielli TT, de Resende FD, Berndt A, Siqueira GR. Long-term encapsulated nitrate supplementation modulates rumen microbial diversity and rumen fermentation to reduce methane emission in grazing steers. Front Microbiol, 2019.

[] Guo C, Zou J, Yang J, Wang K, Song S. Surface characterization of maize-straw derived biochar and their sorption mechanism for Pb²⁺ and methylene blue. PLoS ONE, 2020, 15(8. e0238105

[] Gupta K, Kumar R, Baruah KK, Hazarika S, Karmakar S, Bordoloi N. Greenhouse gas emission from rice fields: a review from Indian context. Environ Sci Pollut Res, 2021, 28 30551-30572.

[] Haroon M, Hu S, Shi Y, Imelfort M, Keller J, Hugenholtz P, Yuan Z, Tyson GW. Anaerobic oxidation of methane coupled to nitrate reduction in a novel archaeal lineage. Nature, 2013, 500 567-570.

[] He X, Yin H, Han L, Cui R, Fang C, Huang G. Effects of biochar size and type on gaseous emissions during pig manure/wheat straw aerobic composting: insights into multivariate-microscale characterization and microbial mechanism. Bioresour Technol, 2019, 271 375-382.

[] He L, Groom JD, Wilson EH, Fernandez J, Konopka MC, Beck DAC, Lidstrom ME. A methanotrophic bacterium to enable methane removal for climate mitigation. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 2023, 120(35. e2310046120

[] Hossain R, Khayyam Nekouei R, Mansuri I, Sahajwalla V. In-situ O/N-heteroatom enriched activated carbon by sustainable thermal transformation of waste coffee grounds for supercapacitor material. J Energy Storage, 2021.

[] Hu J, Wu H, Sun Z, Peng Q, Zhao J, Hu R. Ferrous iron addition decreases methane emissions induced by rice straw in flooded paddy soils. ACS Earth Space Chem, 2020, 4(6): 843-853.

[] Hu X, Yu Z, Cai J, Jiang X, Li P, Yang S. The influence of methane on the development of free radical during low-temperature oxidation of coal in gob. Fuel, 2022, 330. 125369

[] Inthapanya SK, Preston TR, Khang DN, Leng RA (2012) Effect of potassium nitrate and urea as fermentable nitrogen sources on growth performance and methane emissions in local “Yellow” cattle fed lime (Ca (OH)₂) treated rice straw supplemented with fresh cassava foliage.&nbsp;Livestock Res Rural Dev 24(2). http://www.lrrd.org/lrrd24/2/sang24027.htm

[] Jeffery S, Verheijen FGA, Kammann C, Abalos D. Biochar effects on methane emissions from soils: a meta-analysis. Soil Biol Biochem, 2016, 101 251-258.

[] Ji M, Zhou L, Zhang S, Luo G, Sang W. Effects of biochar on methane emission from paddy soil: focusing on DOM and microbial communities. Sci Total Environ, 2020, 743. 140725

[] Jiang Q, Wu P, Zhang X, Zhang Y, Cui M, Liu H, Liu H. Deciphering the effects of engineered biochar on methane production and the mechanisms during anaerobic digestion: surface functional groups and electron exchange capacity. Energy Convers Manage, 2022, 258. 115417

[] Jordan KV, Drouillard JS, Douthit TL, Lattimer JM. Effects of sodium caseinate on hindgut fermentation and fiber digestion in horses. J Anim Sci, 2019, 97(2): 813-819.

[] Joseph S, Pow D, Dawson K, Mitchell DRG, Rawal A, Hook J, Taherymoosavi S, Van Zwieten L, Rust J, Donne S, Munroe P, Pace B, Graber ER, Thomas T, Nielsen S, Ye J, Lin Y, Pan G, Lian-Qing L, Solaiman Z. Feeding biochar to cows: an innovative solution for improving soil fertility and farm productivity. Pedosphere, 2015, 25 666-679.

[] Joseph S, Husson O, Graber ER, Van Zwieten L, Taherymoosavi S, Thomas T, Nielsen S, Ye J, Pan G, Chia C. The electrochemical properties of biochars and how they affect soil redox properties and processes. Agronomy, 2015, 5(3): 322-340.

[] Karthikeyan OP, Chidambarampadmavathy K, Cires S, Heimann K. Review of sustainable methane mitigation and biopolymer production. Crit Rev Environ Sci Technol, 2015, 45(15): 1579-1610.

[] Kim SE, Jeong SK, Park KT, Lee KY, Kim HJ. Effect of oxygen-containing functional groups in metal-free carbon catalysts on the decomposition of methane. Catal Commun, 2021, 148. 106167

[] Klupfel M, Keiluweit M, Kleber M, Sander M. Redox properties of plant biomass-derived black carbon (Biochar). Environ Sci Technol, 2014, 48(10): 5601-5611.

[] Kolganova A, Lal R, Firkins J. Biochar’s electrochemical properties impact on methanogenesis: ruminal vs. soil processes. J Agric Chem Environ, 2023, 12 28-43.

[] Krzyminiewski R, Dobosz B, Schroeder G, Kurczewska J. ESR as a monitoring method of the interactions between TEMPO-functionalized magnetic nanoparticles and yeast cells. Sci Rep, 2019, 9 18733.

[] Latham EA, Anderson RC, Pinchak WE, Nisbet DJ. Insights on alterations to the rumen ecosystem by nitrate and nitrocompounds. Front Microbiol, 2016.

[] Lehmann L, Joseph S Biochar for environmental management: science, technology and implementation, 2015 2 Taylor and Francis Ltd, United Kingdom Routledge.

[] Leng RA. Interactions between microbial consortia in biofilms: a paradigm shift in rumen microbial ecology and enteric methane mitigation. Anim Prod Sci, 2014, 54 519-543.

[] Leng RA, Inthapanya S, Preston TR (2012b) Biochar lowers net methane production from rumen fluid in vitro. Livestock Research for Rural Development 24(6). Retrieved 2022. http://www.lrrd.org/lrrd24/6/sang24103.htm.

[] Leng RA, Preston TR, Inthapanya S (2012a) Biochar reduces enteric methane and improves growth and feed conversion in local “Yellow” cattle fed cassava root chips and fresh cassava foliage. Livestock Research for Rural Development 24(11). http://www.lrrd.org/lrrd24/11/leng24199.htm.

[] Li L, Silveira CI, Nolan JV, Godwin IR, Leng RA, Hegarty RS. Effect of added dietary nitrate and elemental sulfur on wool growth and methane emission of Merino lambs. Anim Prod Sci, 2013, 53(11): 1195-1201.

[] Li B, Wen HM, Wang H, Wu H, Yildirim T, Zhou W, Chen B. Porous metal–organic frameworks with Lewis basic nitrogen sites for high-capacity methane storage. Energy Environ Sci, 2015, 8(8): 2504-2511.

[] Li X, Liu C, Chen Y, Shi R, Cheng Z, Dong H. Effects of mineral salt supplement on enteric methane emissions, ruminal fermentation and methanogen community of lactating cows. Anim Sci J, 2017, 88(8): 1049-1057.

[] Liao S, Pan B, Li H, Zhang D, Xing B. Detecting free radicals in biochars and determining their ability to inhibit the germination and growth of corn, wheat and rice seedlings. Environ Sci Technol, 2014, 48(15): 8581-8587.

[] Liu Y, Yang M, Wu Y, Wang H, Chen Y, Wu W. Reducing CH₄ and CO₂ emissions from waterlogged paddy soil with biochar. J Soils Sediments, 2011, 11 930-939.

[] Liu MC, Kong LB, Zhang P, Luo YC, Kang L. Porous wood carbon monolith for high-performance supercapacitors. Electrochim Acta, 2012, 60 443-448.

[] Lu J, Fu F, Ding Z, Li N, Tang B. Removal mechanism of selenite by Fe₃O₄-precipitated mesoporous magnetic carbon microspheres. J Hazard Mater, 2017, 330 93-104.

[] Ma ZY, Zhou JW, Yi SY, Wang M, Tan ZL. In vitro inoculation of fresh or frozen rumen fluid distinguishes contrasting microbial communities and fermentation induced by increasing forage to concentrate ratio. Front Nutr, 2022, 8. 772645

[] Ma C, Tang L, Cheng H, Li Z, Li W, He G. Biochar for supercapacitor electrodes: mechanisms in aqueous electrolytes. Battery Energy, 2024, 3 20230058.

[] Man KY, Chow KL, Man YB, Mo WY, Wong MH. Use of biochar as feed supplements for animal farming. Crit Rev Environ Sci Technol, 2021, 51(2): 187-217.

[] Matos TTS, Mangrich AS, Cardoso EMC, Schultz J, Fornari JrWisniewski MRA, Carregosa ISC. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy as a tool for the characterization of biochar from guava waste. J Soils Sediments, 2019, 19 286-295.

[] McFarlane Z, Myer P, Cope E, Evans N, Carson Bone T, Biss B, Mulliniks J. Effect of biochar type and size on in vitro rumen fermentation of Orchard Grass Hay. Agric Sci, 2017, 08(04): 316-325.

[] Meat and Livestock Australia (2016) Best management practices for feeding nitrates to cattle. Online report. Australian Government Department of Agriculture. https://www.mla.com.au/globalassets/mla-corporate/blocks/research-and-development/tt_bmp-for-feeding-nitrates-to-cattle_web.pdf

[] Mukherjee A, Zimmerman AR, Harris W. Surface chemistry variations among a series of laboratory-produced biochars. Geoderma, 2011, 163(3–4): 247-255.

[] Nan Q, Xin L, Qin Y, Waqas M, Wu W. Exploring long-term effects of biochar on mitigating methane emissions from paddy soil: a review. Biochar, 2021, 3 125-134.

[] Nan Q, Hu S, Qin Y, Wu W. Methane oxidation activity inhibition via high amount aged biochar application in paddy soil. Sci Total Environ, 2021, 796. 149050

[] Olijhoek DW, Hellwing ALF, Brask M, Weisbjerg MR, Højberg O, Larsen MK, Dijkstra J, Erlandsen EJ, Lund P. Effect of dietary nitrate level on enteric methane production, hydrogen emission, rumen fermentation, and nutrient digestibility in dairy cows. J Dairy Sci, 2016, 99 6191-6205.

[] Paritosh K, Vivekanand V. Biochar enabled syntrophic action: solid state anaerobic digestion of agricultural stubble for enhanced methane production. Bioresour Technol, 2019, 289. 121712

[] Qin Y, Wang H, Li X, Cheng JJ, Wu W. Improving methane yield from organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) with magnetic rice-straw biochar. Bioresour Technol J, 2017, 245 1058.

[] Reguyal F, Sarmah AK. Adsorption of sulfamethoxazole by magnetic biochar: effects of pH, ionic strength, natural organic matter and 17 alpha-ethinylestradiol. Sci Total Environ, 2018, 628–629 722-730.

[] Ren S, Usman M, Tsang DCW, O-Thong S, Angelidaki I, Zhu X, Zhang S, Luo G. Hydrochar-facilitated anaerobic digestion: evidence for direct interspecies electron transfer mediated through surface oxygen-containing functional groups. Environ Sci Technol, 2020, 54(9): 5755-5766.

[] Ruiz V, Blanco C, Granda M, Menendez R, Santamaria R. Influence of electrode preparation on the electrochemical behaviour of carbon-based supercapacitors. J Appl Electrochem, 2007, 37 717-721.

[] Saleem AM, Ribeiro GO, Yang WZ, Ran T, Beauchemin KA, McGeough EJ, Ominski KH, Okine EK, McAllister TA. Effect of engineered biocarbon on rumen fermentation, microbial protein synthesis, and methane production in an artificial rumen (RUSITEC) fed a high forage diet. J Anim Sci, 2018, 96(8): 3121-3130.

[] Schmidt HP, Kelpie W, Claudia K (2017) Using biochar in animal farming to recycle nutrients and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Proceedings of the 19th European Geosciences Union General Assembly. EGU2017. 5719

[] Schmidt HP, Hagemann N, Draper K, Kammann C. The use of biochar in animal feeding. PeerJ, 2019, 7. e7373

[] Soltan Y, Morsy A, Hashem N, Elazab M, Sultan M, Marey H, Lail GAE, El-Desoky N, Hosny N, Mahdy A, Hafez E, Sallam S. Modified nano-montmorillonite and monensin modulate in vitro ruminal fermentation, nutrient degradability, and methanogenesis differently. Animals, 2021, 11 3005.

[] Song X, Wang L, Gong J, Zeng Y, Zhan X, Ni Z. Adsorption kinetics and thermodynamics of CO₂ and CH₄ on activated carbon modified by acetic acid. Mater Sci Eng Technol, 2020, 51(7): 957-996.

[] Spanghero M, Braidot M, Sarnataro C, Fabro C, Piani B, Gallo A. In vitro aflatoxins recovery after changing buffer or protozoa concentrations in the rumen fermentation fluid. J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr, 2023.

[] Sriphirom P, Towprayoon S, Yagi K, Rossopa B, Chidthaisong A. Changes in methane production and oxidation in rice paddy soils induced by biochar addition. Appl Soil Ecol, 2022, 179. 104585

[] Stock food regulations in NSW (2015) https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/723476/Stock-Foods-Regulation-factsheet.pdf. https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/animals-and-livestock

[] Tagliapietra F, Cattani M, Bailoni L, Schiavon S. In vitro rumen fermentation: effect of headspace pressure on the gas production kinetics of corn meal and meadow hay. Anim Feed Sci Technol, 2010, 158(3): 197-201.

[] Tahery S, Munroe P, Marjo CE, Rawal A, Horvat J, Mohammed M, Webber JBW, Arns JY, Arns CH, Pan G, Bian R, Joseph S. A comparison between the characteristics of a biochar-NPK granule and a commercial NPK granule for application in the soil. Sci Total Environ, 2022, 832. 155021

[] Taherymoosavi S, Joseph S, Munroe P. Characterization of organic compounds in a mixed feedstock biochar generated from Australian agricultural residues. J Anal Appl Pyrol, 2016, 120 441-449.

[] Taherymoosavi S, Verheyen V, Munroe P, Joseph S, Reynolds A. Characterization of organic compounds in biochars derived from municipal solid waste. Waste Manage, 2017, 67 131-142.

[] Taherymoosavi S, Joseph S, Pace B, Munroe P. A comparison between the characteristics of single- and mixed-feedstock biochars generated from wheat straw and basalt. J Anal Appl Pyrol, 2018, 129 123-133.

[] Taherymoosavi S, Rebbeck M, Joseph S, Munroe P, Chen G, O'Sullivan M, Pitchford SW. Overall benefits of biochar, fed to dairy cows, for the farming system. Pedosphere, 2023, 33(1): 225-230.

[] Tamayao PJ, Ribeiro GO, McAllister TA, Yang HE, Saleem AM, Ominski KH, Okine EK, McGeough EJ. Effects of post-pyrolysis treated biochars on methane production, ruminal fermentation, and rumen microbiota of a silage-based diet in an artificial rumen system (RUSITEC). Anim Feed Sci Technol, 2021, 273. 114802

[] Teoh R, Caro E, Holman DB, Joseph S, Meale SJ, Chaves AV. Effects of hardwood biochar on methane production, fermentation characteristics, and the rumen microbiota using rumen simulation. Front Microbiol, 2019, 10 1534.

[] The University of Queensland. The University of Queensland Animal Ethics Committees, 8th, https://doi.org/https://research-support.uq.edu.au/research-support/ethics-integrity-and-compliance/animal-ethics/uq-animal-ethics-committees (2021).

[] Trubetskaya A, Jensen PA, Jensen AD, Glarborg P, Larsen FH, Andersen ML. Characterization of free radicals by electron spin resonance spectroscopy in biochars from pyrolysis at high heating rates and at high temperatures. Biomass Bioenerg, 2016, 94 117-129.

[] University of Queensland animal ethics committees (2021) https://research.uq.edu.au/research-support/ethics-integrity-and-compliance/animal-ethics/uq-animal-ethics-committees

[] Urrutia NL, Harvatine KJ. Acetate dose-dependently stimulates milk fat synthesis in lactating dairy cows. J Nutr, 2017, 147(5): 763-769.

[] Valenzuela EI, Padilla-Loma C, Gomez-Hernandez N, Lopez-Lozano NE, Casas-Flores S, Cervantes FJ. Humic substances mediate anaerobic methane oxidation linked to nitrous oxide reduction in wetland sediments. Front Microbiol, 2020, 11 587.

[] Wang ZK, Liu QH, Yang ZM. Nano magnetite-loaded biochar boosted methanogenesis through shifting microbial community composition and modulating electron transfer. Sci Total Environ, 2023, 861. 160597

[] Xu SN, Adhikari D, Huang RX, Zhang H, Tang YZ, Roden E, Yang Y. Biochar facilitated microbial reduction of hematite. Environ Sci Technol, 2016, 50 2389-2395.

[] Yang W, Shang J, Li B, Flury M. Surface and colloid properties of biochar and implications for transport in porous media. Crit Rev Environ Sci Technol, 2020, 50(23): 2484-2522.

[] Zhang M, Wang Y. Effects of Fe-Mn-modified biochar addition on anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge: biomethane production, heavy metal speciation and performance stability. Bioresour Technol, 2020, 313. 123695

[] Zhang S, Abdalla MAS, Luo Z, Xia S. The wheat straw biochar research on the adsorption/desorption behaviour of mercury in wastewater. Desalin Water Treat, 2018, 112 147-160.

[] Zhang M, Li J, Wang Y. Impact of biochar-supported zerovalent iron nanocomposite on the anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge. Environ Sci Pollut Res, 2019, 26 10292-10305.

[] Zhang X, Xia J, Pu J, Cai C, Tyson GW, Yuan Z, Hu S. Biochar-mediated anaerobic oxidation of methane. Environ Sci Technol, 2019, 53(12): 6660-6668.

[] Zhang P, O’Connor D, Wang Y, Jiang L, Xia T, Wang L, Tsang DCW, Ok YS, Hou D. A green biochar/iron oxide composite for methylene blue removal. J Hazard Mater, 2020, 384. 121286

[] Zhang X, Zhang P, Yuan X, Li Y, Han L. Effect of pyrolysis temperature and correlation analysis on the yield and physicochemical properties of crop residue biochar. Bioresour Technol, 2020, 296. 122318

[] Zhang P, Duan W, Peng H, Pan B, Xing B. Functional biochar and its balanced. Design Am Chem Soc Environ Au, 2022, 2(2): 115-127.