Alice Budai

Forsker

(+47) 930 50 414
alice.budai@nibio.no

Sted
Ås - Bygg H7

Besøksadresse
Høgskoleveien 7, 1433 Ås

Biografi

Alice Budai studerte kjemi og agroøkologi før hun fullførte doktorgrad i jordfag ved Norges Miljø- og Biovitenskapelige Universitet i 2017.  Gjennom doktorgradsarbeidet undersøkte hun effekten av pyrolysetemperatur på biokulls egenskaper med spesielt fokus på stabilitet i jord.  Arbeidet hennes fokuserte på bruk av biokull som jordforbedringsmateriale, og nå undersøker hun effekten av biokull på prosesser som kompostering.  Fagområdet hennes inkluderer metoder som bruker stabile isotoper, gassmåling under inkubasjon, karbonstabilitet, kjemisk struktur av biokull og indikatorer for jordkvalitet. 

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Sammendrag

Infrared and 13C solid state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopies and benzene polycarboxylic acids (BPCA) analysis were used to characterize the structural changes occurring during slow pyrolysis of corncob and Miscanthus at different temperatures from 235 °C to 800 °C. In the case of corncob, a char sample obtained from flash carbonization was also investigated. Spectroscopic techniques gave detailed information on the transformations of the different biomass components, whereas BPCA analysis allowed the amount of aromatic structures present in the different chars and the degree of aromatic condensation to be determined. The results showed that above 500 °C both corncob and Miscanthus give polyaromatic solid residues with similar degree of aromatic condensation but with differences in the structure. On the other hand, at lower temperatures, char composition was observed to depend on the different cellulose/hemicellulose/lignin ratios in the feedstocks. Flash carbonization was found to mainly affect the degree of aromatic condensation.

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Sammendrag

Key priorities in biochar research for future guidance of sustainable policy development have been identified by expert assessment within the COST Action TD1107. The current level of scientific understanding (LOSU) regarding the consequences of biochar application to soil were explored. Five broad thematic areas of biochar research were addressed: soil biodiversity and ecotoxicology, soil organic matter and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, soil physical properties, nutrient cycles and crop production, and soil remediation. The highest future research priorities regarding biochar’s effects in soils were: functional redundancy within soil microbial communities, bioavailability of biochar’s contaminants to soil biota, soil organic matter stability, GHG emissions, soil formation, soil hydrology, nutrient cycling due to microbial priming as well as altered rhizosphere ecology, and soil pH buffering capacity. Methodological and other constraints to achieve the required LOSU are discussed and options for efficient progress of biochar research and sustainable application to soil are presented.

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Biochar is a carbon-rich solid product obtained by pyrolysis of biomass. Here, we investigated multiple biochars produced under slow pyrolysis (235–800 °C), flash carbonization, and hydrothermal carbonization (HTC), using Scanning Electron Microscope—Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (SEM-EDX) in order to determine whether SEM-EDX can be used as a proxy to characterize biochars effectively. Morphological analysis showed that feedstock has an integrated structure compared to biochar; more pores were generated, and the size became smaller when the temperature increased. Maximum carbon content (max. C) and average carbon content (avg. C) obtained from SEM-EDX exhibited a positive relationship with pyrolysis temperature, with max. C correlating most closely with dry combustion total carbon content. The SEM-EDX O/C ratios displayed a consistent response with the highest treatment temperature (HTT). The study suggests that SEM-EDX produces highly consistent C, oxygen (O), and C/O ratios that deserve further investigation as an operational tool for characterization of biochar products.

Sammendrag

Biochar has emerged as a promising carbon dioxide removal (CDR) solution that combines long-term carbon storage with benefits for soil health, waste management, and industrial applications. This report provides a comprehensive assessment of the current state of biochar across feedstocks, production technologies, material properties, and end-use pathways, with a particular focus on its role in climate mitigation. Drawing on scientific literature and international case studies, the report evaluates the carbon sequestration potential, environmental performance, and technological maturity of biochar systems. It distinguishes between applications that deliver durable carbon removal and those that primarily contribute to emission reductions. The report further examines deployment barriers, including feedstock availability, regulatory frameworks, market development, and safety considerations, and reviews the status of biochar implementation across Mission Innovation countries. Based on these insights, it outlines key opportunities and recommendations to support the responsible scale-up of biochar as a climate solution.

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Sammendrag

Compost application is a widely recommended practice to maintain and improve soil fertility. However, such a practice could be a main entry path for plastic into soil. Accordingly, in the present work, two different compost samples, obtained with and without biochar, were analyzed to investigate how composting can affect the presence of microplastics (MPs). The substrate of both samples (consisting of a mixture of household food waste and animal manure) was also analyzed for comparative purposes. Samples were processed by oxidation, flotation, and filtration. MPs on the filters were observed, counted, and size-calibrated using both a stereomicroscope and an inverted microscope. MPs larger than 1 mm were further characterized by attenuated total reflectance Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR). In parallel, mesoplastics (0.5–2 cm) were recovered from substrate and compost and extracted in methanol for testing in vitro cytotoxicity. The estimated concentration of MPs ranged from 820 to 1340 fragments/kg of dry sample, depending upon the sample. Three polymers represented the totality of identified plastic items: polyethylene (PE, including both low and high density), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and polypropylene (PP) in order of abundance. Nevertheless, cytotoxicity was only observed in mesoplastic extracts from the substrate and could not be attributed to the identified plastic items themselves, suggesting that cytotoxic effects could have been caused by contaminants adsorbed to plastics or by the leaching of plastic additives during the extraction process. In summary, the composting process reduced the cytotoxicity of plastic extracts and the presence of MPs in compost, which could be attributed to the fragmentation of plastics.