Biochar seeding properties affect struvite crystallization for soil application

Abstract

Struvite crystallization is a viable approach for recovering phosphorus from phosphorus-rich solutions such as urine and wastewater. However, designing seed materials to promote crystal growth and enhance the efficiency of struvite crystallization remains an area of active research. In this study, we investigated the seeding characteristics of biochars on struvite crystallization and the impact of biochar feedstock type and production temperature on the process. Microwave-pyrolyzed biochars produced from different feedstocks and under different temperatures were examined as seeding materials for struvite crystallization from urine and the influence of biochar properties on the overall struvite yield, nutrient recovery and struvite crystal size. Sawdust biochar (lignocellulosic biomass) produced at 500 ​°C had the highest struvite yield (7.91 ​g ​L⁻¹), phosphate (97.9%) and ammonium recovery (87.1%), and relative crystal size (85.2%) compared to the non-seeded treatment due to its higher surface area, pore volume, and hydrophobicity of the biochar. Manure pellet biochar (non-lignocellulosic biomass) produced at 500 ​°C also exhibited performance comparable to sawdust biochar produced at 500 ​°C. Increasing pyrolysis temperature increased biochar's hydrophobicity, zeta potential, electrophoretic mobility and bulk density, irrespective of the feedstock type, thereby improving the seeding process. The ash content of biochar was negatively correlated with its surface area, pore volume, and particle size, but positively correlated with biochar's bulk density and suspension stability. In conclusion, feedstock type and pyrolysis temperature significantly affected biochar properties, which interactively influenced struvite crystallization. Therefore, biochars should be carefully selected to improve their efficiency for phosphorus recovery from phosphorus-containing solutions such as urine and wastewater, with the recovered phosphorus being used for soil applications.