The impact of pyrolysis temperature on physicochemical properties and pulmonary toxicity of tobacco stem micro-biochar

Yi-Chun Chen; Ku-Fan Chen; Jun-Hong Lin; Shih-Wei Huang; Hung-Hsiang Chen; Kun-Yi Andrew Lin; Chia-Hua Lin

doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.128349

The impact of pyrolysis temperature on physicochemical properties and pulmonary toxicity of tobacco stem micro-biochar

Chemosphere. 2021 Jan:263:128349. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.128349. Epub 2020 Sep 16.

Authors

Yi-Chun Chen¹, Ku-Fan Chen², Jun-Hong Lin³, Shih-Wei Huang⁴, Hung-Hsiang Chen¹, Kun-Yi Andrew Lin⁵, Chia-Hua Lin⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Biotechnology, National Formosa University, Yunlin, 63208, Taiwan; Department of Civil Engineering, National Chi Nan University, Nantou, 54561, Taiwan.
² Department of Civil Engineering, National Chi Nan University, Nantou, 54561, Taiwan.
³ Department of Natural Biotechnology, Nanhua University, Chiayi, 62249, Taiwan.
⁴ Department of Electronics, Cheng Shiu University, Kaohsiung, 83347, Taiwan; Center for Environmental Toxin and Emerging-Contaminant Research, Cheng Shiu University, Kaohsiung, 83347, Taiwan; Super Micro Research and Technology Center, Cheng Shiu University, Kaohsiung, 83347, Taiwan.
⁵ Department of Environmental Engineering, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, 40227, Taiwan. Electronic address: linky@nchu.edu.tw.
⁶ Department of Biotechnology, National Formosa University, Yunlin, 63208, Taiwan. Electronic address: vicchlin@nfu.edu.tw.

PMID: 33297274
DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.128349

Abstract

Biochars (BCs) are currently widely used, yet their impact on human health is mostly unknown. We generated micro-tobacco stem-pyrolysed BCs (mTBCs) at different pyrolysis temperatures and assessed pulmonary toxicity in normal human lung epithelial BEAS-2B cells. mTBCs generated at 350 °C (mTBC350) and 650 °C (mTBC650) were analysed and compared for physicochemical properties and adverse effects. Pyrolysis temperature had a significant influence on chemical composition, particle size, specific surface area and aromatic carbon structure. mTBC650 displayed a highly ordered aromatic carbon structure with smaller particle size, high surface area (20.09 m2/g) and high polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon and metal content. This composition could promote reactive oxygen species accumulation accompanied by greater cytotoxicity, genotoxicity and epithelial barrier malfunction in cultured cells. Thus, the risk of pulmonary toxicity owing to micro-BCs (mBCs) is affected by pyrolysis temperature. Long-term exposure to mBCs produced at high temperatures may lead to or exacerbate pulmonary disease.

Keywords: Epithelial barrier; Micro-biochars; Oxidative DNA damage; Pyrolysis temperature; ROS.

MeSH terms

Charcoal
Hot Temperature
Humans
Nicotiana*
Pyrolysis*
Temperature

Substances

biochar
Charcoal