Potential Use of Macroalgal Biochar of Enteromorpha compressa and Ulva lactuca for Improvement of Water and Soil

Algae have various applications and may use to biochar production. In this study, laboratory biochar production of two macroalgae of Enteromorpha compressa and Ulva lactuca collected from Persian Gulf were investigated. Biochar production was performed at different temperature without oxygen. The characters of obtained biochar were determined by standard methods. Results showed that the temperature had significant effect (P<0.05) on weight, pH, organic carbon content, N, Ca, Mg, Na and K of macroalgal biochars. The biochar of E. compressa and U. lactuca had, respectively, 13.54 -28.57 % and 22.65-43.75 % ash weight; 8.04-11.71 and 8.17-12.09 pH; 9.1-18.22 % and 12.14-21.25 % organic carbon; 2.1-3.3 % and 2.7-4.1 % N; 16-20 and 20-32 meq/l Ca; 48-172 and 12-440 meq/l Mg; 26485-33531 and 7977-13445 meq/l Na; 7323-8831 and 4675-7933 meq/l K. The macroalgae biochar have different nutrients that could be used for improvement of soil and increasing of yield of production. In addition, biochar of of E. compressa and U. lactuca may use for improvement of acidic soils and also as biosorbent for treatment of wastewaters.