Abstract
Nutrient management methods based on ecosystems are crucial for providing agricultural nutrient needs while reducing the environmental impact of fertilizer usage. With increasing agricultural production, the global demand for potassium is increasing, with India importing potassium from countries like Canada, USA, Israel, and Russia. Biomass-fired industries generate biomass ash as a residue so management of the resultant ash is important. Agricultural residue ashes contain abundant potassium so could potentially be used for fertilizer application. This review describes different potassium sources and recovery processes, including chemical precipitation, water extraction, solvent extraction, membrane separation, and ionic exchange. Extraction time, temperature, and solid to solvent ratio affect the recovery of potassium from biomass ash. Water extraction is the most commonly used method for potassium recovery from biomass ash. The environmental impact of potassium fertilizer recovered from biomass ash is less than that of mining source of potash. This paper discusses topics not covered in previous reviews, such as different biosources of potassium, latest recovery methods, and life cycle assessment of these methods. The gaps identified in the reports are addressed, and future research opportunities are presented.
Funding source: Department of Science and Technology and Merino Industries Limited
Award Identifier / Grant number: DST/TDT/WMT/2019/32(A)
-
Research ethics: Not applicable.
-
Author contributions: Dipali Gahane: investigation, methodology, writing original draft preparation; Sachin A. Mandavgane: conceptualisation, supervision, editing manuscript, and funding. The authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this manuscript and approved its submission.
-
Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.
-
Research funding: The authors are thankful to DST for research funding (DST/TDT/WMT/2019/32(A)).
-
Data availability: Proper references are given wherever required and permissions have been taken for the same. For this review paper, data are taken from published articles.
References
Ackerman, J.N. and Cicek, N. (2017). Recovering agricultural nutrients (potassium and phosphorus) from biomass ash: a review of literature, Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/330887917.Search in Google Scholar
Adeoye, G.O., Sridhar, M.K.C., and Ipinmoroti, R.R. (2001). Potassium recovery from farm wastes for crop growth. Commun. Soil Sci. Plant Anal. 32: 2347–2358, https://doi.org/10.1081/css-120000377.Search in Google Scholar
Andrews, E.M., Kassama, S., Smith, E.E., Brown, P.H., and Khalsa, S.D.S. (2021). A review of potassium-rich crop residues used as organic matter amendments in tree crop agroecosystems, Agriculture 11: 580.10.3390/agriculture11070580Search in Google Scholar
Bakhshandeh, E., Pirdashti, H., and Lendeh, K.S. (2017). Phosphate and potassium-solubilizing bacteria effect on the growth of rice. Ecol. Eng. 103: 164–169, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2017.03.008.Search in Google Scholar
Basak, B.B. and Biswas, D.R. (2009). Influence of potassium solubilizing microorganism (Bacillus mucilaginosus) and waste mica on potassium uptake dynamics by Sudan grass (Sorghum vulgare Pers.) grown under two Alfisols. Plant Soil 317: 235–255, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-008-9805-z.Search in Google Scholar
Bennett, A.M., Lobanov, S., Koch, F.A., and Mavinic, D.S. (2017). Improving potassium recovery with new solubility product values for K-struvite. J. Environ. Eng. Sci. 12: 93–103, https://doi.org/10.1680/jenes.17.00019.Search in Google Scholar
Cardoen, D., Joshi, P., Diels, L., Sarma, P.M., and Pant, D. (2015). Agriculture biomass in India: Part 1. Estimation and characterization. Resour. Conserv. Recycl. 102: 39–48, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2015.06.003.Search in Google Scholar
Carey, D.E., Yang, Y., McNamara, P.J., and Mayer, B.K. (2016). Recovery of agricultural nutrients from biorefineries. Bioresour. Technol. 215: 186–198, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2016.02.093.Search in Google Scholar PubMed
Clery, D.S., Mason, P.E., Rayner, C.M., and Jones, J.M. (2018). The effects of an additive on the release of potassium in biomass combustion. Fuel 214: 647–655, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2017.11.040.Search in Google Scholar
da Costa, T.P., Quinteiro, P., Tarelho, L.A.C., Arroja, L., and Dias, A.C. (2020). Life cycle assessment of woody biomass ash for soil amelioration. Waste Manage. 101: 126–140, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2019.10.006.Search in Google Scholar PubMed
Diep, C.N. (2013). Phosphate and potassium solubilizing bacteria from weathered materials of denatured rock mountain, ha tien, Kien Giang Province, Vietnam. Am. J. Life Sci. 1: 88, https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajls.20130103.12.Search in Google Scholar
Dodson, J.R., Hunt, A.J., Budarin, V.L., Matharu, A.S., and Clark, J.H. (2011). The chemical value of wheat straw combustion residues. RSC Adv. 1: 523–530, https://doi.org/10.1039/c1ra00271f.Search in Google Scholar
Dufossé, K., Marie-charlotte, M., Augiseau, V., Henrion, T., and Djelal, H. (2022). Quantification and environmental assessment of wood ash from biomass power plants: Case study of brittany region in France, Sustainability 14: 99.10.3390/su14010099Search in Google Scholar
Etesami, H., Emami, S., and Alikhani, H.A. (2017). Potassium solubilizing bacteria (KSB): mechanisms, promotion of plant growth, and future prospects - a review. J. Soil Sci. Plant Nutr. 17: 897–911, https://doi.org/10.4067/s0718-95162017000400005.Search in Google Scholar
Fastelli, M., Cambi, C., Zucchini, A., Sassi, P., Balbi, E.P., Pioppi, L., Cotana, F., Cavalaglio, G., and Comodi, P. (2023). Use of biomass ash in reinforced clayey soil: a multiscale analysis of solid-state reactions. Recycling 8: 1–24, https://doi.org/10.3390/recycling8010005.Search in Google Scholar
Fernández-Pereira, C., De La Casa, J.A., Gómez-Barea, A., Arroyo, F., Leiva, C., and Luna, Y. (2011). Application of biomass gasification fly ash for brick manufacturing. Fuel 90: 220–232, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2010.07.057.Search in Google Scholar
Finch, H.J.S., Samuel, A.M., and Lane, G.P.F. (2014). Fertilisers and manures. In: Lockhart & Wiseman’s Crop Husbandry Including Grassland. Woodhead Publishing, Sawston, pp. 63–91.10.1533/9781782423928.1.63Search in Google Scholar
Fukasawa, T., Horigome, A., Tsu, T., Karisma, A.D., Maeda, N., Huang, A.N., and Fukui, K. (2017). Utilization of incineration fly ash from biomass power plants for zeolite synthesis from coal fly ash by hydrothermal treatment. Fuel Process. Technol. 167: 92–98, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuproc.2017.06.023.Search in Google Scholar
Gahane, D., Biswal, D., and Mandavgane, S.A. (2022). Life cycle assessment of biomass pyrolysis. Bioenergy Res. 15: 1387–1406, https://doi.org/10.1007/s12155-022-10390-9.Search in Google Scholar
Goulding, K., Murrell, T.S., Mikkelsen, R.L., Rosolem, C., Johnston, J., Wang, H., and Alfaro, M.A. (2020). Outputs: Potassium losses from agricultural systems. Springer, New York.10.1007/978-3-030-59197-7_3Search in Google Scholar
Grant Gellatly, C.R.G. (1978). Method for removal of potassium nitrate from tobacco extracts, application no. 741448.Search in Google Scholar
Grott, Gerald J. (2012). Method of recovering potassium from waste waters for use in purification of waste water from which the potassium is recycled, while retaining the potassium in forms suitable for use as a nutrient in growing microbs, plants and algae. US 2012/0061315 A1.Search in Google Scholar
Hagman, L. and Feiz, R. (2021). Advancing the circular economy through organic by-product valorisation: a multi-criteria assessment of a wheat-based biorefinery. Waste Biomass Valori. 12: 6205–6217, https://doi.org/10.1007/s12649-021-01440-y.Search in Google Scholar
Hidayat, E., Halem, H.I.A., Mitoma, Y., and Harada, H. (2021). Recovery of biomass incinerated as struvite-K precipitates followed aluminium removal. Green Sust. Chem. 11: 96–106, https://doi.org/10.4236/gsc.2021.113009.Search in Google Scholar
Jena, S.K. (2021). A review on potash recovery from different rock and mineral sources. Min. Metall. Explor. 38: 47–68, https://doi.org/10.1007/s42461-020-00286-7.Search in Google Scholar
Jensen, P.A., Frandsen, F.J., Dam-Johansen, K., and Sander, B. (2000). Experimental investigation of the transformation and release to gas phase of potassium and chlorine during straw pyrolysis. Energy Fuels 14: 1280–1285, https://doi.org/10.1021/ef000104v.Search in Google Scholar
Johansson, S., Ruscalleda, M., Saerens, B., and Colprim, J. (2019). Potassium recovery from centrate: taking advantage of autotrophic nitrogen removal for multi-nutrient recovery. J. Chem. Technol. Biotechnol. 94: 819–828, https://doi.org/10.1002/jctb.5828.Search in Google Scholar
Jones, J.M., Darvell, L.I., Bridgeman, T.G., Pourkashanian, M., and Williams, A. (2007). An investigation of the thermal and catalytic behaviour of potassium in biomass combustion. Proc. Combust. Inst. 31: 1955–1963, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proci.2006.07.093.Search in Google Scholar
Karim, A.A., Kumar, M., Kumar, S.S., Panda, C.R., and Mishrakanta, B. (2017). Potash rich biochar from biomass using plasma technique. WO2017/208250A1.Search in Google Scholar
Katta, A.K., Davis, M., and Kumar, A. (2020). Development of disaggregated energy use and greenhouse gas emission footprints in Canada’s iron, gold, and potash mining sectors. Resour. Conserv. Recycl. 152: 104485, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2019.104485.Search in Google Scholar
Kee, S.H., Chiongson, J.B.V., Saludes, J.P., Vigneswari, S., Ramakrishna, S., and Bhubalan, K. (2021). Bioconversion of agro-industry sourced biowaste into biomaterials via microbial factories – a viable domain of circular economy. Environ. Pollut. 271: 116311, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2020.116311.Search in Google Scholar PubMed
Khosro, M. and Yousef, S. (2012). Bacterial biofertilizers for sustainable crop production : a review. J. Agric. Biol. Sci. 7: 307–316.Search in Google Scholar
Kinekar, B.K. (2011). Potassium fertilizer situation in India : current use and perspectives. Karnataka J. Agric. Sci. 24: 1–6.Search in Google Scholar
Lam, K.L., Zlatanović, L., and van der Hoek, J.P. (2020). Life cycle assessment of nutrient recycling from wastewater: a critical review. Water Res. 173: 115519–115535.10.1016/j.watres.2020.115519Search in Google Scholar PubMed
Lanzerstorfer, C. (2019). Potential of industrial de-dusting residues as a source of potassium for fertilizer production – a mini review. Resour. Conserv. Recycl. 143: 68–76, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2018.12.013.Search in Google Scholar
Li, X., Zhu, W., Wu, Y., Wang, C., Zheng, J., Xu, K., and Li, J. (2015). Recovery of potassium from landfill leachate concentrates using a combination of cation-exchange membrane electrolysis and magnesium potassium phosphate crystallization. Sep. Purif. Technol. 144: 1–7, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2015.01.035.Search in Google Scholar
Liaw, S.B. and Wu, H. (2013). Leaching characteristics of organic and inorganic matter from biomass by water: differences between batch and semi-continuous operations. Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 52: 4280–4289, https://doi.org/10.1021/ie3031168.Search in Google Scholar
Linderholm, K., Tillman, A.M., and Mattsson, J.E. (2012). Life cycle assessment of phosphorus alternatives for Swedish agriculture. Resour. Conserv. Recycl. 66: 27–39, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2012.04.006.Search in Google Scholar
Ma, H., Feng, W., Miao, S., Wang, Y., and Tian, S. (2005). New type of potassium deposit: modal analysis and preparation of potassium carbonate. Sci. China Earth Sci. 48: 1932–1941, https://doi.org/10.1360/04yd0041.Search in Google Scholar
Maeda, N., Katakura, T., Fukasawa, T., Huang, A.N., Kawano, T., and Fukui, K. (2017). Morphology of woody biomass combustion ash and enrichment of potassium components by particle size classification. Fuel Process. Technol. 156: 1–8, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuproc.2016.09.026.Search in Google Scholar
Maiti, P., Maiti, S., Haldar, S., Ghara, K.K., Das, P., Charola, S.K.K., et al. (2017). Process for potash recovery from biomethanated spent wash with concomitant environmental remediation of effluent, application no. 10,683,211.Search in Google Scholar
Majee, S., Halder, G., and Mandal, T. (2019). Formulating nitrogen-phosphorous-potassium enriched organic manure from solid waste: a novel approach of waste valorization. Process Saf. Environ. Prot. 132: 160–168, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psep.2019.10.013.Search in Google Scholar
Mananda, A.B., Harada, H., Halem, H.I.A., Mitoma, Y., and Keiko, F. (2021). Study of potassium recovery from biomass ash using tartaric acid and syngenite method. J. Mater. Sci. Chem. Eng. 09: 39–52, https://doi.org/10.4236/msce.2021.95004.Search in Google Scholar
Meena, V.S., Maurya, B.R., and Verma, J.P. (2014). Does a rhizospheric microorganism enhance K+ availability in agricultural soils? Microbiol. Res. 169: 337–347, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.micres.2013.09.003.Search in Google Scholar PubMed
Meena, V.S., Maurya, B.R., Verma, J.P., and Meena, R.S. (2016). Potassium solubilizing microorganisms for sustainable agriculture. In: Potassium Solubilizing Microorganisms for Sustainable Agriculture. Springer, New York, pp. 1–331.10.1007/978-81-322-2776-2_1Search in Google Scholar
Nakakubo, T., Tokai, A., and Ohno, K. (2012). Comparative assessment of technological systems for recycling sludge and food waste aimed at greenhouse gas emissions reduction and phosphorus recovery. J. Clean. Prod. 32: 157–172, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2012.03.026.Search in Google Scholar
Norval, G. (2020). System and method for the purification and recovery of potash, WO2020/016632A1.Search in Google Scholar
Öborn, I., Andrist-Rangel, Y., Askegaard, M., Grant, C.A., Watson, C.A., and Edwards, A.C. (2005). Critical aspects of potassium management in agricultural systems. Soil Use Manag. 21: 102–112, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-2743.2005.tb00414.x.Search in Google Scholar
Parmar, P. and Sindhu, S.S. (2013). Potassium solubilization by rhizosphere bacteria: influence of nutritional and environmental conditions. Res. J. Microbiol., 3: 25–31. %3Cb%3E %3C/b%3EPotassium (K) is the third major essential macronutrient for plant growth. The concentrations of soluble potassium in the soil are usually very low and more than 90%25 of potassium in the soil exists in the form of insoluble rocks and sil.Search in Google Scholar
Patel, H., Maiti, S., Müller, F., and Maiti, P. (2019). Sustainable methodology for production of potassic fertilizer from agro-residues: case study using empty cotton boll. J. Clean. Prod. 215: 22–33, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.01.003.Search in Google Scholar
Perná, I., Ochecová, P., Száková, J., Hanzlíček, T., and Tlustoš, P. (2016). Determination of plant-available nutrients in two wood ashes: the influence of combustion conditions. Commun. Soil Sci. Plant Anal. 47: 1664–1674, https://doi.org/10.1080/00103624.2016.1206557.Search in Google Scholar
Prajapati, K. (2012). The Importance of Potassium in Plant Growth – A Review. Indian J. Plant Sci. 1: 177–186.Search in Google Scholar
al Rawashdeh, R. and Maxwell, P. (2014). Analysing the world potash industry. Resour. Policy 41: 143–151, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resourpol.2014.05.004.Search in Google Scholar
Saddawi, A., Jones, J.M., and Williams, A. (2012). Influence of alkali metals on the kinetics of the thermal decomposition of biomass. Fuel Process. Technol. 104: 189–197, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuproc.2012.05.014.Search in Google Scholar
Sakiewicz, P., Lutyński, M., Sobieraj, J., Piotrowski, K., Miccio, F., and Kalisz, S. (2022). Adsorption of CO2 on in situ functionalized straw burning ashes. An innovative, circular economy-based concept for limitation of industrial-scale greenhouse gas emission. Energies 15: 1352, https://doi.org/10.3390/en15041352.Search in Google Scholar
Samadhi, T.W., Wulandari, W., Amalia, R.A. and Khairunnisah, R. (2019). Potassium recovery from tropical biomass ash. AIP Conf. Proc. 2085: 020003.10.1063/1.5094981Search in Google Scholar
Sanghavi, R.J., Dobariya, R., Bhatti, S., Upadhyay, S.C., Kumar, A., and Patel, P.D. (2021). Recovery of phosphorus and potassium from industrial effluents: preparation of magnesium-potassium-phosphate (struvite-K) fertilizer using sea bittern or bittern based salts. Int. J. Appl. Chem. 17: 19–32. http://www.ripublication.com.Search in Google Scholar
Sardans, J. and Peñuelas, J. (2015). Potassium: a neglected nutrient in global change. Glob. Ecol. Biogeogr. 24: 261–275, https://doi.org/10.1111/geb.12259.Search in Google Scholar
Shan, J., Liu, H., Long, S., Zhang, H., and Lichtfouse, E. (2022). Electrochemical crystallization for recovery of phosphorus and potassium from urine as K-struvite with a sacrificial magnesium anode. Environ. Chem. Lett. 20: 27–33, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-021-01333-5.Search in Google Scholar
Sheng, X.F. (2005). Growth promotion and increased potassium uptake of cotton and rape by a potassium releasing strain of Bacillus edaphicus. Soil Biol. Biochem. 37: 1918–1922, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2005.02.026.Search in Google Scholar
Sherwood, J. (2020). The significance of biomass in a circular economy. Bioresour. Technol. 300: 122755.10.1016/j.biortech.2020.122755Search in Google Scholar PubMed
Simpson, B.K., Oldham, J.H., and Martin, A.M. (1985). Extraction of potash from cocoa pod husks. Agric. Wastes 13: 69–73, https://doi.org/10.1016/0141-4607(85)90013-7.Search in Google Scholar
Sindhu, S.S., Dua, S., Verma, M.K., and Khandelwal, A. (2010). Microbes for legume improvement.Search in Google Scholar
Sindhu, S.S., Parmar, P., and Phour, M. (2014). Nutrient cycling: potassium Solubilization by Microorganisms and Improvement of crop growth, pp. 175–198.10.1007/978-3-642-41837-2_10Search in Google Scholar
Sparks, D.L. and Huang, P.M. (2015). Physical chemistry of soil potassium. In: Potassium in Agriculture. ASA, CSSA, and SSSA Books, Medison, pp. 201–276.10.2134/1985.potassium.c9Search in Google Scholar
Spebbeb, J.I. (1958). The incidence of apatite-solubilizing organisms in the rhizosphere and soil. Aust. J. Agric. Res. 9: 778–781, https://doi.org/10.1071/ar9580778.Search in Google Scholar
Tan, Z. and Lagerkvist, A. (2011). Phosphorus recovery from the biomass ash: a review. Renew. Sustain. Energy Rev. 15: 3588–3602, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2011.05.016.Search in Google Scholar
Tosti, L., van Zomeren, A., Pels, J.R., Damgaard, A., and Comans, R.N.J. (2020). Life cycle assessment of the reuse of fly ash from biomass combustion as secondary cementitious material in cement products. J. Clean. Prod. 245: 118937, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.118937.Search in Google Scholar
Trivedi, N.S., Mandavgane, S.A., Mehetre, S., and Kulkarni, B.D. (2016). Characterization and valorization of biomass ashes. Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res. Int. 23: 20243–20256, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-7227-7.Search in Google Scholar PubMed
Turp, G.A., Turp, S.M., Ozdemir, S., and Yetilmezsoy, K. (2021). Vermicomposting of biomass ash with bio-waste for solubilizing nutrients and its effect on nitrogen fixation in common beans. Environ. Technol. Innov. 23: 101691, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eti.2021.101691.Search in Google Scholar
Vassilev, S.V., Baxter, D., Andersen, L.K., and Vassileva, C.G. (2010). An overview of the chemical composition of biomass. Fuel 89: 913–933, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2009.10.022.Search in Google Scholar
Velasco-Muñoz, J.F., Mendoza, J.M.F., Aznar-Sánchez, J.A., and Gallego-Schmid, A. (2021). Circular economy implementation in the agricultural sector: definition, strategies and indicators. Resour. Conserv. Recycl. 170: 105618.10.1016/j.resconrec.2021.105618Search in Google Scholar
Wang, S.Y., Xiao, X., Wang, X.Q., Dong, C.Q., Li, W.Y., Lu, Q., and Wang, T.P. (2017a). Potassium recovery from the fly ash from a grate boiler firing agro-residues: effects of unburnt carbon and calcination pretreatment. J. Chem. Technol. Biotechnol. 92: 801–807, https://doi.org/10.1002/jctb.5062.Search in Google Scholar
Wang, Y., Tan, H., Wang, X., Du, W., Mikulčić, H., and Duić, N. (2017b). Study on extracting available salt from straw/woody biomass ashes and predicting its slagging/fouling tendency. J. Clean. Prod. 155: 164–171, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.08.102.Search in Google Scholar
Yuan, J., Zhao, Y., Li, Q., Ji, Z., and Guo, X. (2012). Preparation of potassium ionic sieve membrane and its application on extracting potash from seawater. Sep. Purif. Technol. 99: 55–60, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2012.08.020.Search in Google Scholar
Zhai, J., Burke, I.T., and Stewart, D.I. (2021). Beneficial management of biomass combustion ashes. Renew. Sustain. Energy Rev. 151: 111555, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2021.111555.Search in Google Scholar
Zhan, G. and Guo, Z. (2013). Water leaching kinetics and recovery of potassium salt from sintering dust. Trans. Nonferrous Met. Soc. China 23: 3770–3779, https://doi.org/10.1016/s1003-6326(13)62928-3.Search in Google Scholar
Zhou, W., Zhu, D., Tan, L., Liao, S., Hu, Z., and Hamilton, D. (2007). Extraction and retrieval of potassium from water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes). Bioresour. Technol. 98: 226–231, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2005.11.011.Search in Google Scholar PubMed
© 2024 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston