What determines pH of biochars?

Most biochars have alkaline pH (above 8). That could be explained by Ca, Mg, K oxides released during the charring process (pyrolysis). Yet, some biochars have acidic pH (less than 6). What may be...

05 June 2018 2,324 5 View

How to correct subsoil acidity for perennial crops?

Soil acidity is often characterized by high Al/Mn and low Ca/Mg. Dolomite or calcite (i.e., agricultural lime) can be used to mix with the surface soil and correct its acidity. But for tree crops,...

04 May 2018 2,136 0 View

Where does positive charge on biochar come from?

It has been reported that biochars can retain anions, such as nitrate and phosphate. Specific adsorption could explain P retention, but positive charge must be present to electrostatically retain...

01 February 2018 6,146 1 View

Are there minimum numbers of variables and observations in Principal Component Analysis (PCA)?

It is understood that PCA can be used to combine/reduce rather large numbers of related variables into a few independent (orthogonal) factors for statistical analysis and interpretation. Yet, are...

07 August 2017 2,424 1 View

Can I use a pressure cooker to sterilize soils? If yes, what precautions should I take?

I need to sterilize about 100 kg soil for a greenhouse experiment. Knowing that methyl bromide has been banned and sodium azide or toluene is not appropriate (because I want to study N and C), is...

04 May 2016 326 2 View

How to separate abiotic from biotic effects of biochar on soil quality?

We know that biochars have several properties from tiny pores that can retain water and protect microorganisms to surface functional groups (e.g., COOH, OH, C=O, etc) that can retain plant...

04 May 2016 4,806 4 View

How can we match biochars -- as soil amendments -- with soil conditions?

Since different biochars have different properties, what kind of biochars should be used as a soil amendment for nutrient-poor, acidic tropical soils? The goal is to improve soil productivity and...

04 May 2016 669 4 View

How well can we characterize ferrihydrite and allophane now?

Decades ago ferrihydrite and allophane were considered amorphous with no X-ray patterns. But now with modern techniques, Can we characterize these minerals (substances) well?

11 December 2015 3,026 0 View

What is the effective way to measure the real cation exchange capacity (CEC) of biochars?

Biochars are thought of as 'inert' carbon materials, yet their reported CEC are relative high (over 20 centimole of charge per kg). Are these values correct? or the methods of measurement are not...

09 October 2015 2,068 6 View

How to control eutrophication?

Eutrophication is a serious problem in many water ways from China to the US gulf coast. It is believed to be caused by high P and N from erosion and run-off. Are there any good ways to control it?

04 May 2015 5,857 2 View

Chlorinated organic formation in odor control scrubbers using hypochlorite?

I'm involved in a study of odor control technologies for municipal wastewater treatment plant. One of the control options involves a chemical 2-stage (acid/alkaline) packed bed scrubber. The...

03 March 2021 3,661 2 View

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02 March 2021 3,060 3 View

What do you know about biotechnology art?

What do you know about biotechnology art?

02 March 2021 1,653 3 View

Which is the best place in the world for the plant biotechnology research?

I am searching for a good place for the Post Doc,

02 March 2021 4,053 3 View

Ester cleavage conditions?

Hi all, I need to cleave the ester in Ethyl 2-amino-1H-imidazole-5-carboxylate to make the carboxylic acid and retrieve the product from solution to use in downstream applications of linking to...

01 March 2021 8,766 3 View

Which bacteria are suitable for quorum sensing screening?

I want to find a quorum sensing inhibitor from plant extracts. Klebsiella pneumoniae, Moraxella catarrhalis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus pneumoniae. I looked for these strains...

01 March 2021 7,675 3 View

Isolates of Hymenoscyphus fraxineus?

Dear Dr. Cai, my name is Simone Prospero and I work in the team of Phytopathology at the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest Snow and Landscape Research (WSL;...

01 March 2021 1,133 1 View

What are the most relevant MSc proposal topics for Petroleum Production Engineering at the moment?

I am a Petroleum Production Engg MSc student at Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen and I am in the process of selecting a topic for my MSc Engineering Investigation proposal. I would very much...

01 March 2021 7,396 4 View

Is CD44 degraded in lysosome together with hyaluronan after CD44 mediated endocytosis of hyaluronic acid?

Also when RHAMM binds hyaluronic acid, they get internalized, will RHAMM also be degraded? Or both CD44 and RHAMM will be transferred back to the cell membrane? Asking for breast cancer cell line...

01 March 2021 8,169 2 View

Where to find data on trees in tropical agroforestry?

Hi, I'm looking for data (mainly related to management: growth rate, canopy size, soil and climate preferences, etc.) about tropical trees used in tropical agroforestry. Have you ever heard about...

28 February 2021 7,356 8 View