Large-scale soil application of hydrochar: Reducing its polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon content and toxicity by heating.

The beneficial roles of hydrochar in carbon sequestration and soil improvement are widely accepted. Despite few available reports regarding polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) generated during preparation, their potential negative impacts on ecosystems remain a concern. A heating treatment method was employed in this study for rapidly removing PAHs and reducing the toxicity of corn stover-based hydrochar (CHC).

Liquid-solid ratio during hydrothermal carbonization affects hydrochar application potential in soil: Based on characteristics comparison and economic benefit analysis.

Returning straw-like agricultural waste to the field by converting it into hydrochar through hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) is an important way to realize resource utilization of waste, soil improvement, and carbon sequestration. However, the large-scale HTC is highly limited by the large water consumption and waste liquid pollution. Here, we propose strategies to optimize the liquid-solid ratio (LSR) of HTC, and comprehensively evaluate the stability, soil application potential, and economic benefits of corn stover-based hydrochar under different LSRs.

N-Vacancy-Functionalized Carbon for High-Rate Li-Ion Storage.

Although heteroatom doping and pore management separately influence the Li adsorption and Li diffusion properties, respectively, merging their functions into a single unit is intriguing and has not been fully investigated. Herein, we have successfully incorporated both heteroatom doping and pore management within the same functional unit of N-vacancy motifs, which is realized via acid etching of formamide-derived Zn-N-functionalized carbon materials (ZnNC). The N-vacancy-rich porous carbon (V-NC) renders multiple merits: (1) a high N content of 13.