Invasive plants may cause significant environmental risks by affecting biological diversity, ecosystem services, agriculture, and forestry. Safe utilization of invasive plant biomass by obtaining new outcome products useful for bioeconomics is a challenging but promising solution. Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) presents a sustainable and cost-effective approach to transforming invasive plant biomass into new products while simultaneously supporting carbon capture aims. This study utilized invasive plants such as lupine [Lupinus polyphyllus Lindl.], Sosnowsky's hogweed [Heracleum sosnowskyi Manden.], and Japanese knotweed [Polygonum cuspidatum Siebold & Zucc.] as biomass sources for HTC to produce artificial humic substances (AHS). The greatest impact on the yield of AHS (maximum gained yield of 62%) was the duration of the HTC process (up to 6 h) and temperature of the treatment (from 160 up to 250 C), as well as the catalyst used (an alkaline medium is preferable). During the HTC treatment, significant changes in the invasive plant biomass composition occur, as indicated by the removal of labile components of organic matter. The AHS obtained are essentially similar to natural humic matter and have biostimulatory properties; thus, they can be applied in agriculture and other areas of bioeconomics.
How to translate text using browser tools
16 May 2024
Hydrothermal carbonization of invasive plant biomass as a tool for its safe utilization and production of artificial humic substances
Maris Klavins,
Linda Ansone-Bertina,
Janis Krumins,
Oskars Purmalis,
Laura Klavina,
Zane Vincevica-Gaile
ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE
Biomass waste
biostimulants
Fallopia japonica
Heracleum sosnowskyi
Lupinus polyphyllus