Publications
Science powers our mission to capture and store carbon while creating fertile soil
Artificial humic substances and CO2 sequestration
Artificial humic substances improve microbial activity for binding CO2
Humic substances (HS) are an indicator of fertile soils, but more and more soils keep losing there humic matter. This is mostly due to anthropogenic over-cultivation. Artificial humic acid (A-HA) and artificial fulvic acid were synthesized from agricultural litter, with high similarity to natural HS extracted from soil. These samples were added to black soils, and soil activity and nutrients availability were analyzed. The results demonstrate that the content of dissolved organic matter and total organic carbon (TOC) largely increased. The increase in TOC 28 days after addition of A-HA was 21.4 g/kg. This was much higher than the amount of the added A-HA carbon, which was 0.3 g/kg. As a “secondary” benefit, nutrient availability is increased, promoting the growth of plants.
Natural and artificial humic substances to manage minerals, ions, water, and soil microorganisms
The sources provide a comprehensive overview of humic substances (HSs), both natural and artificial, exploring their chemical properties, applications in agriculture and environmental remediation, and the potential of artificial HSs (A-HSs) for addressing global challenges. HSs, complex organic molecules found in soil and other natural environments, offer a range of benefits due to their ability to bind metal ions, improve soil structure, enhance nutrient availability, and promote plant growth. The sources also discuss the synthesis of A-HSs through methods like hydrothermal humification (HTH) and highlight how these materials can be derived from waste biomass, potentially offering sustainable solutions for soil improvement, pollution control, and carbon sequestration.
Carbon materials advancing microorganisms in driving soil organic carbon regulation
The source highlights the crucial role of microorganisms in governing soil carbon content, emphasizing the potential of artificial carbon materials (ACMs) to amplify carbon sequestration. In particular, artificial humic substances (A-HS), synthesized from biomass, can enhance soil organic carbon (SOC) content by stimulating the growth and activity of carbon-sequestering bacteria like Rubrivivax gelatinosus. While biochar’s effects on soil microbes are well-documented, A-HS research is still developing, presenting opportunities to further understand its long-term impact and optimize its use for soil carbon management and agricultural productivity.
Anthropogenic, carbon-reinforced soil as a living engineered material
Artificial humic substances (A-HS), derived from waste biomass, have shown promise in improving soil fertility and mitigating climate change. Upon the addition of A-HS, the soil has been observed to undergo five distinct phases: initial chemotrophic “boost” of microbial growth, a decrease in dissolved organic carbon, the establishment of “soil photosynthesis” in the presence of light, self-organization and social colony formation within the microbial community, and ultimately, a sustainable phase characterized by efficient nutrient cycling. Notably, A-HS can stimulate soil photocatalysis, a process where microbes, particularly photosynthetic bacteria like Rubrivivax gelatinosus, utilize light to fix atmospheric CO2 into organic carbon. This process contributes significantly to the increase in total organic carbon (TOC) observed in soils treated with A-HS, demonstrating a potential for carbon sequestration far exceeding the initial amount of A-HS added. This highlights the importance of viewing anthropogenic soil systems not as static carbon sinks but rather as dynamic, living materials with the capacity for self-regeneration and long-term carbon storage.
Artificial humic Acids: Sustainable materials against climate change
Artificial humic acids (A-HAs) are a promising tool for climate change mitigation due to their ability to sequester carbon in the soil and improve agricultural fertility. The sources explain that A-HAs can be synthesized from waste biomass through a process called hydrothermal humification, which mimics the natural humification process but occurs at a much faster rate. The article highlights the numerous benefits of A-HA, including improved soil fertility, reduced reliance on fertilizers, and enhanced water retention. By increasing the concentration of humic matter in soil, A-HAs can help to reduce atmospheric CO2 levels while simultaneously enhancing soil health and agricultural productivity.
HTH-process
Artificial humic acid facilitates biological carbon sequestration under freezing-thawing conditions
Liquid artificial humic acid (LA-HA) can significantly increase soil organic carbon (SOC) content in black soils, particularly when combined with freezing-thawing cycles, by promoting the growth and activity of carbon-sequestering bacteria like Mycolicibacterium gadium and Starkeya novella. This biological amplification process leads to the transformation of labile carbon into more resistant forms, such as microbial necromass and organo-mineral complexes, contributing to long-term carbon storage. The study suggests that applying LA-HA to soil during periods of freezing and thawing could be a promising strategy for enhancing carbon sequestration and mitigating climate change.
Maximizing the value of liquid products and minimizing carbon loss in hydrothermal processing of biomass – an evolution from carbonization to humification
The study examines two hydrothermal processes, hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) and hydrothermal humification (HTH), for converting cow manure digestate into valuable products, comparing their effectiveness in generating organic compounds, especially artificial humic acids (A-HAs). The research highlights that HTH, conducted at a higher pH using potassium hydroxide (KOH), yields a significantly higher amount of A-HAs (37.5 wt%) compared to HTC, primarily recovered from the liquid phase. Moreover, HTH reduces the concentration of potentially harmful aromatic compounds in the resulting products while increasing the production of organic acids, making the liquid product suitable for anaerobic digestion to produce methane.
A hydrothermal process to turn biomass into artificial fulvic and humic acids for soil remediation
Artificial humic substances (A-HS), including artificial fulvic acid (A-FA) and artificial humic acid (A-HA), can be created through a process called hydrothermal humification, which uses heat and pressure to convert waste biomass into molecules that closely resemble naturally occurring humic substances. The source describes this as a promising method to produce materials with the benefits similar to natural humic substances, which are known to improve soil health and fertility. Further research is needed to assess the long-term impacts and effectiveness of A-HS for applications such as soil remediation and carbon sequestration.
Soil fertility/ Detoxification
A stunt of sustainability – artificial humic substances can generate and stabilize single Fe0 species on mineral surfaces
This scientific study explores the potential of artificial humic substances (A-HS) to generate and stabilize single-atom Fe0 species on mineral surfaces in soil. Using advanced electron microscopy, researchers discovered that A-HS, acting as a redox buffer charged by anaerobic microbial activity, facilitates the formation of these highly reductive Fe0 species, especially under frost-logged conditions. This process mimics the beneficial effects of zero-valent iron nanoparticles, known for their ability to remediate and detoxify soil, but offers a more sustainable and cost-effective approach. The study suggests that A-HS could provide a promising strategy for sustainable soil remediation by promoting the natural self-cleaning abilities of black soils.
Artificial humic substances as sustainable carriers for manganese: Development of a novel bio-based microfertilizer
This study explores a novel approach to creating manganese-rich microfertilizers by incorporating manganese into artificial humic substances (AHS) during the hydrothermal humification of poplar bark. The research highlights how varying manganese concentrations influence the characteristics of the resulting AHS, noting that while higher manganese content can compromise solubility, the AHS-Mn5 formulation (5% manganese) strikes a balance between effective manganese incorporation and solubility. Bioassays using cucumber plants demonstrate that this AHS-Mn5 formulation is more effective at delivering bioavailable manganese compared to simply adding manganese salt to the growth medium, suggesting its potential as a sustainable and efficient microfertilizer for enhancing plant nutrient uptake
Synthetic humic acids solubilize otherwise insoluble phosphates to improve soil fertility
Artificial humic acids (A-HA), synthesized from biomass through hydrothermal process, show significant potential in enhancing soil fertility by solubilizing insoluble phosphates, making them available for plant uptake. This process involves the A-HA etching and restructuring phosphate minerals like FePO4 through interactions with carboxyl and phenolic groups, leading to the formation of bioavailable phosphate nanoparticles. Studies using A-HA treated soils demonstrate a notable increase in plant-available phosphorus, resulting in enhanced plant growth compared to control groups.