Thermochemical Transformation of Calcium during Biomass Burning and the Effects on Postfire Aqueous Dissolution of Macronutrients

Huang, Rixiang; Nicholas, Sarah; Wei, Zheng

doi:10.1021/acs.est.4c04820

Title: Thermochemical Transformation of Calcium during Biomass Burning and the Effects on Postfire Aqueous Dissolution of Macronutrients

Journal Article · 18 September 2024 · Environmental Science and Technology

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.4c04820 · OSTI ID:2452783

^[1]; Nicholas, Sarah ^[2];

^[1]

University at Albany, NY (United States)
Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States). National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS-II)

Calcium is commonly the most abundant element in fire residues and its speciation largely determines the geochemical properties of fire residues and their effects on postfire soil chemistry. To explore the effects of biomass composition and fire conditions on ash Ca speciation, this study characterizes the speciation of Ca in charcoal and ash samples that were derived from different plant compartments and thermal conditions, using Ca K-edge X-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy. Results showed that biomass contains abundant organic Ca complexes, which were mineralized into fairchildite and calcite after heating at 450 to 600 °C and then CaO, as temperature increased to 750 °C. Apatite could be an abundant Ca species in fire residues if the Ca/P molar ratio of the biomass is small (<2). The mineralization of organic Ca to the identified Ca minerals during burning was negligibly affected by the oxygen level. Calcium speciation in prescribed fire residues resembled that of biomass ash burned at 550 °C with similar Ca/P molar ratios. Batch experiments showed that macronutrients (Ca, Mg, K, and P) were differentially released, as a result of different solubility of minerals in ashes and reprecipitation of minerals. The aqueous solubility of Ca, Mg, and P decreased as pH increased from 5 to 9, while K showed no pH dependency and was almost completely soluble. Results from this study improve our understanding of the chemistry of fire residues and their geochemical behaviors, which can help evaluate the impact of fire on postfire soil properties and macronutrient cycling.

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Research Organization:: Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Scientific User Facilities (SUF); National Science Foundation (NSF)

Grant/Contract Number:: SC0012704

OSTI ID:: 2452783

Report Number(s):: BNL--226209-2024-JAAM

Journal Information:: Environmental Science and Technology, Journal Name: Environmental Science and Technology Journal Issue: 39 Vol. 58; ISSN 0013-936X

Publisher:: American Chemical Society (ACS)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
X-ray absorption spectroscopy
elemental cycling
fire ash
macronutrient
speciation
thermochemistry
wildland fire

Title: Thermochemical Transformation of Calcium during Biomass Burning and the Effects on Postfire Aqueous Dissolution of Macronutrients

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