Preparation of carbon-based material with high water absorption capacity and its effect on the water retention characteristics of sandy soil

Abstract

Biochar has the potential to provide a multitude of benefits when used in soil remediation and increasing soil organic matter enrichment. Nevertheless, the intricated, hydrophobic pores and groups weaken its water-holding capacity in dry, sandy soils in arid lands. In order to combat this issue, starch-carbon-based material (SB), sodium alginate-carbon-based material (SAB), and chitosan-carbon-based material (CB) have been successfully synthesized through the graft-polymerization of biochar (BC). A series of soil column simulations were used to scrutinize the microstructure of the carbon-based material and explore its water absorption properties and its effects on sandy soil water infiltration, water retention, and aggregation.