Biochar, with high degree of carbon stability, is considered as a kind of carbon sequestration material that can effectively alleviate the greenhouse effect. It is of great significance for carbon sequestration and mitigation to develop biochar with high carbon retention and stability. Mineral modification can regulate the stability of biochar. However, the relevant research has not received enough attention, and the underlying mechanism is not very clear. Firstly, the evaluation indices of biochar stability were summarized, mainly including H/C atomic ratio, O/C atomic ratio, coefficient of stability R50, volatile-matter content, thermal weight loss rate of carbon, carbon (chemical) oxidation loss rate, and cumulative CO2 emission of microbial mineralization. Then, based on the analysis of impact factors of biochar stability (such as raw material type, carbonization condition, external environment, etc.), we reviewed research progress about the effects of mineral modification on biochar stability. Furthermore, possible mechanisms of both enhancement and weakening effects on biochar stability were put forward. Enhancement is mainly due to the effects of physical barrier of minerals and the organic mineral complex formed by the interaction of mineral and biochar. While weakening effect is mainly due to special mineral composition, such as the Fe-bearing mineral composition, which promotes the thermal decomposition of biochar at high temperature. Finally, future research directions were proposed, in order to promote the development of carbon sequestration technology of biochar and provide technical support and theoretical basis for obtaining more stable biochar.
生物炭具有高度的碳素稳定性,是一种能有效缓解温室效应的固碳材料.研发碳素持留率高和稳定性强的生物炭对固碳减排具有重要意义.矿物改性处理能对生物炭的稳定性起调控作用,但目前相关研究并未得到足够重视,相应调控机理尚不十分清楚.本研究首先对生物炭稳定性的评价指标进行了归纳,主要包括H/C原子比、O/C原子比、稳定性系数R50、挥发性物质含量、碳素热失重率、碳素(化学)氧化损失率、微生物矿化量等.其次,在分析生物炭稳定性影响因素(如原料类型、炭化条件、外界环境等)的基础上,综述了矿物改性对生物炭稳定性影响的研究进展,并探讨了稳定性增强和减弱的响应机制,认为生物炭稳定性的增强响应主要是基于矿物本身的物理阻隔作用,以及矿物与生物炭之间通过交互作用形成的有机矿物复合体对生物炭起到的保护作用,在一定程度上抑制生物炭的降解;而生物炭稳定性的减弱响应则主要与特殊矿物组分有关,例如含铁矿物组分在高温下促进生物炭的降解.最后对未来的研究方向进行了展望,以期进一步推动生物炭固碳减排技术的发展,并为获得稳定性更强的生物炭提供技术支撑和理论依据.
Keywords: biochar; carbon sequestration; mineral modification; soil organic carbon; stability.