{"id":{"repo_id":"uwo","oai_identifier":"oai:uwo.scholaris.ca:20.500.14721/32804"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/uwo/oai:uwo.scholaris.ca:20.500.14721/32804","repository":{"repo_id":"uwo","name":"Western University","base_url":"https://uwo.scholaris.ca/server/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"Development of Carbon-Based, Controlled-Release Soil Ameliorants Through Chemical Pathways","abstract":"This thesis aimed to develop and validate the Carbon Control Technology (CCT®), a novel, patented process for converting waste agricultural residues into carbon-based controlled-release fertilizers (CBCRFs) through chemical carbonization followed by nutrient impregnation. The process involved treating lignocellulosic biomass with 93% sulfuric acid to produce a stable carbon matrix, subsequently neutralized with anhydrous ammonia to incorporate nitrogen. In partnership with Sulvaris Inc. and the Institute for Chemicals and Fuels from Alternative Resources (ICFAR), pilot-scale reactors were designed, improved, and operated, producing over 600 kg of CCT® material for field trials. These products demonstrated nitrogen contents of 15–17% and sulfur levels of 18–20%. The second phase of this work investigated how lignocellulosic composition influenced CBCRF properties. Chars derived from pine, spruce, coconut, and switchgrass were characterized using elemental analysis, FTIR, TGA/DTG, BET, SEM-EDX, and XPS. Switchgrass chars exhibited the highest porosity (423.97 m2/g) and surface oxygenation (COOH up to 13.51%), promoting nutrient loading but associated with lower thermal stability. Coconut chars, with high aromaticity (C-C/C=C 48.17%), offered greater structural durability but fewer reactive sites for nutrient binding. Pine and spruce chars provided a balance, with moderate porosity and oxygen functionality supporting both nutrient retention and controlled-release potential. Across all feedstocks, nutrient impregnation was successful: nitrogen contents of up to 4.59% (spruce) and sulfur up to 2.11% (coconut) were retained post-washing, with XPS confirming incorporation as quaternary nitrogen (NR3+) and sulfonic (SO3-) groups. SEM-EDX showed uniform distribution of nitrogen and sulfur, while TGA/DTG analysis revealed that washed CBCRFs exhibited more gradual degradation profiles, consistent with chemical stabilization rather than mere physical adsorption. Collectively, these results confirm that the CCT® process effectively carbonizes diverse lignocellulosic residues and produces nutrient-functionalized matrices suitable for use as slow-release fertilizers, with structural and chemical traits tunable via feedstock selection and process conditions.","abstract_html":"This thesis aimed to develop and validate the Carbon Control Technology (CCT®), a novel, patented process for converting waste agricultural residues into carbon-based controlled-release fertilizers (CBCRFs) through chemical carbonization followed by nutrient impregnation. The process involved treating lignocellulosic biomass with 93% sulfuric acid to produce a stable carbon matrix, subsequently neutralized with anhydrous ammonia to incorporate nitrogen. In partnership with Sulvaris Inc. and the Institute for Chemicals and Fuels from Alternative Resources (ICFAR), pilot-scale reactors were designed, improved, and operated, producing over 600 kg of CCT® material for field trials. These products demonstrated nitrogen contents of 15–17% and sulfur levels of 18–20%. The second phase of this work investigated how lignocellulosic composition influenced CBCRF properties. Chars derived from pine, spruce, coconut, and switchgrass were characterized using elemental analysis, FTIR, TGA/DTG, BET, SEM-EDX, and XPS. Switchgrass chars exhibited the highest porosity (423.97 m2/g) and surface oxygenation (COOH up to 13.51%), promoting nutrient loading but associated with lower thermal stability. Coconut chars, with high aromaticity (C-C/C=C 48.17%), offered greater structural durability but fewer reactive sites for nutrient binding. Pine and spruce chars provided a balance, with moderate porosity and oxygen functionality supporting both nutrient retention and controlled-release potential. Across all feedstocks, nutrient impregnation was successful: nitrogen contents of up to 4.59% (spruce) and sulfur up to 2.11% (coconut) were retained post-washing, with XPS confirming incorporation as quaternary nitrogen (NR3+) and sulfonic (SO3-) groups. SEM-EDX showed uniform distribution of nitrogen and sulfur, while TGA/DTG analysis revealed that washed CBCRFs exhibited more gradual degradation profiles, consistent with chemical stabilization rather than mere physical adsorption. Collectively, these results confirm that the CCT® process effectively carbonizes diverse lignocellulosic residues and produces nutrient-functionalized matrices suitable for use as slow-release fertilizers, with structural and chemical traits tunable via feedstock selection and process conditions.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Horvers, Stephanos"],"institution":"The University of Western Ontario","degree_name":"Ph D","degree_level":null,"degree_discipline":"Chemical and Biochemical Engineering","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":["Berruti, Franco","Klinghoffer, Naomi"],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2025,"date_issued":"2025-06-13","date_published":"2025-06-13","updated_at":"2026-07-27T21:56:20Z","subjects":["Controlled-release fertilizers","Carbon-based controlled-release fertilizers","Agri-residues","Chemical carbonization","Hydrolysis","Chemisorption","Nutrient impregnation","Char"],"languages":["en_ca"],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14721/32804","outbound_label":"Handle","outbound_source":"dc:identifier.uri"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.advisor","label":"Advisor","values":["Berruti, Franco","Klinghoffer, Naomi"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Horvers, Stephanos"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.accessioned","label":"Dc Date Accessioned","values":["2025-07-10T19:36:54Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2025-06-13"]},{"key":"dc:publisher","label":"Institution","values":["The University of Western Ontario"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Chemical and Biochemical Engineering"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Ph D"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Controlled-release fertilizers","Carbon-based controlled-release fertilizers","Agri-residues","Chemical carbonization","Hydrolysis","Chemisorption","Nutrient impregnation","Char"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language.iso","label":"Language (ISO)","values":["en_ca"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14721/32804"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description","label":"Description","values":["The thesis cover page in the PDF document includes references to Western University’s previous institutional repository platform, known as Scholarship@Western, and links to that platform (beginning with ir.lib.uwo.ca). In citing or referring to this thesis, use the DOI or handle from this page instead. Sample citation: Author name, \"Thesis title.\" (Year). Western University Open Repository. https://doi.org/10.71858/123456."]},{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["This thesis aimed to develop and validate the Carbon Control Technology (CCT®), a novel, patented process for converting waste agricultural residues into carbon-based controlled-release fertilizers (CBCRFs) through chemical carbonization followed by nutrient impregnation. The process involved treating lignocellulosic biomass with 93% sulfuric acid to produce a stable carbon matrix, subsequently neutralized with anhydrous ammonia to incorporate nitrogen. In partnership with Sulvaris Inc. and the Institute for Chemicals and Fuels from Alternative Resources (ICFAR), pilot-scale reactors were designed, improved, and operated, producing over 600 kg of CCT® material for field trials. These products demonstrated nitrogen contents of 15–17% and sulfur levels of 18–20%. The second phase of this work investigated how lignocellulosic composition influenced CBCRF properties. Chars derived from pine, spruce, coconut, and switchgrass were characterized using elemental analysis, FTIR, TGA/DTG, BET, SEM-EDX, and XPS. Switchgrass chars exhibited the highest porosity (423.97 m2/g) and surface oxygenation (COOH up to 13.51%), promoting nutrient loading but associated with lower thermal stability. Coconut chars, with high aromaticity (C-C/C=C 48.17%), offered greater structural durability but fewer reactive sites for nutrient binding. Pine and spruce chars provided a balance, with moderate porosity and oxygen functionality supporting both nutrient retention and controlled-release potential. Across all feedstocks, nutrient impregnation was successful: nitrogen contents of up to 4.59% (spruce) and sulfur up to 2.11% (coconut) were retained post-washing, with XPS confirming incorporation as quaternary nitrogen (NR3+) and sulfonic (SO3-) groups. SEM-EDX showed uniform distribution of nitrogen and sulfur, while TGA/DTG analysis revealed that washed CBCRFs exhibited more gradual degradation profiles, consistent with chemical stabilization rather than mere physical adsorption. Collectively, these results confirm that the CCT® process effectively carbonizes diverse lignocellulosic residues and produces nutrient-functionalized matrices suitable for use as slow-release fertilizers, with structural and chemical traits tunable via feedstock selection and process conditions."]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Development of Carbon-Based, Controlled-Release Soil Ameliorants Through Chemical Pathways"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.advisor":["Berruti, Franco","Klinghoffer, Naomi"],"dc:creator":["Horvers, Stephanos"],"dc:date.accessioned":["2025-07-10T19:36:54Z"],"dc:date.issued":["2025-06-13"],"dc:description":["The thesis cover page in the PDF document includes references to Western University’s previous institutional repository platform, known as Scholarship@Western, and links to that platform (beginning with ir.lib.uwo.ca). In citing or referring to this thesis, use the DOI or handle from this page instead. Sample citation: Author name, \"Thesis title.\" (Year). Western University Open Repository. https://doi.org/10.71858/123456."],"dc:description.abstract":["This thesis aimed to develop and validate the Carbon Control Technology (CCT®), a novel, patented process for converting waste agricultural residues into carbon-based controlled-release fertilizers (CBCRFs) through chemical carbonization followed by nutrient impregnation. The process involved treating lignocellulosic biomass with 93% sulfuric acid to produce a stable carbon matrix, subsequently neutralized with anhydrous ammonia to incorporate nitrogen. In partnership with Sulvaris Inc. and the Institute for Chemicals and Fuels from Alternative Resources (ICFAR), pilot-scale reactors were designed, improved, and operated, producing over 600 kg of CCT® material for field trials. These products demonstrated nitrogen contents of 15–17% and sulfur levels of 18–20%. The second phase of this work investigated how lignocellulosic composition influenced CBCRF properties. Chars derived from pine, spruce, coconut, and switchgrass were characterized using elemental analysis, FTIR, TGA/DTG, BET, SEM-EDX, and XPS. Switchgrass chars exhibited the highest porosity (423.97 m2/g) and surface oxygenation (COOH up to 13.51%), promoting nutrient loading but associated with lower thermal stability. Coconut chars, with high aromaticity (C-C/C=C 48.17%), offered greater structural durability but fewer reactive sites for nutrient binding. Pine and spruce chars provided a balance, with moderate porosity and oxygen functionality supporting both nutrient retention and controlled-release potential. Across all feedstocks, nutrient impregnation was successful: nitrogen contents of up to 4.59% (spruce) and sulfur up to 2.11% (coconut) were retained post-washing, with XPS confirming incorporation as quaternary nitrogen (NR3+) and sulfonic (SO3-) groups. SEM-EDX showed uniform distribution of nitrogen and sulfur, while TGA/DTG analysis revealed that washed CBCRFs exhibited more gradual degradation profiles, consistent with chemical stabilization rather than mere physical adsorption. Collectively, these results confirm that the CCT® process effectively carbonizes diverse lignocellulosic residues and produces nutrient-functionalized matrices suitable for use as slow-release fertilizers, with structural and chemical traits tunable via feedstock selection and process conditions."],"dc:identifier.uri":["https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14721/32804"],"dc:language.iso":["en_ca"],"dc:publisher":["The University of Western Ontario"],"dc:subject":["Controlled-release fertilizers","Carbon-based controlled-release fertilizers","Agri-residues","Chemical carbonization","Hydrolysis","Chemisorption","Nutrient impregnation","Char"],"dc:title":["Development of Carbon-Based, Controlled-Release Soil Ameliorants Through Chemical Pathways"],"dc:type":["thesis"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Chemical and Biochemical Engineering"],"thesis:degree_name":["Ph D"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-27T21:56:20Z"}