{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,25]],"date-time":"2026-03-25T08:42:48Z","timestamp":1774428168668,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":44,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"16","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2022,8,13]],"date-time":"2022-08-13T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1660348800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"IDMEC, under LAETA"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Energies"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Pinewood biomass in Portugal can be considered a major source of biochar for soil physical, chemical, and biological edaphic amendment. This work intended to evaluate the aptitude of lab produced biochar for upgrading soil moisture dynamics\u2019 relationships considering mixtures of biochar with silica-based sand. The methodology used focused on the carbonization of pine biomass with inert atmosphere at 300 \u00b0C, 400 \u00b0C, 500 \u00b0C and 600 \u00b0C, followed by a chemical proximate and thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared analysis, numerical modeling, and characterization of biochar porosity by gas adsorption (Brunauer\u2013Emmett\u2013Teller) and mercury porosimetry. The results showed the increased amounts of soil water retention and plant available water, evaluated through pF curves, due to biochar application. The thermogravimetric analysis mass loss patterns and FTIR transmittance, reflected major structural modifications in carbonized products by comparison with raw biomass. Mercury porosimetry showed that biochar pores between 392 and 250 \u03bcm and 32 \u03bcm and 6 \u03bcm gave the highest pore volume for water retention with a major increase from carbonization, by comparison with physical activation. The used methodologies allowed us to conclude that the carbonaceous feedstock can potentiate the improvement of soil water relations aiming at agricultural land use.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/en15165882","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2022,8,14]],"date-time":"2022-08-14T21:09:06Z","timestamp":1660511346000},"page":"5882","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":15,"title":["Assessment of Biomass and Biochar of Maritime Pine as a Porous Medium for Water Retention in Soils"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"15","author":[{"given":"Rodrigo V.","family":"Santos","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Instituto Superior T\u00e9cnico, Universidade de Lisboa, 1 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9817-2334","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Miguel A. A.","family":"Mendes","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"IDMEC, Instituto Superior T\u00e9cnico, Universidade de Lisboa, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4867-0973","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Carlos","family":"Alexandre","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Geosciences (ECT) and MED\u2014Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development, Instituto de Investiga\u00e7\u00e3o e Forma\u00e7\u00e3o Avan\u00e7ada, Universidade de \u00c9vora, P\u00f3lo da Mitra, Ap. 94, 7006-554 \u00c9vora, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4856-5150","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Manuela Ribeiro","family":"Carrott","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"LAQV-REQUIMTE, Instituto de Investiga\u00e7\u00e3o e Forma\u00e7\u00e3o Avan\u00e7ada, Departamento de Qu\u00edmica e Bioqu\u00edmica, Escola de Ci\u00eancias e Tecnologia, Col\u00e9gio Lu\u00eds Ant\u00f3nio Verney, Universidade de \u00c9vora, 7000-671 \u00c9vora, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8820-6454","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Abel","family":"Rodrigues","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"IDMEC, Instituto Superior T\u00e9cnico, Universidade de Lisboa, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal"},{"name":"INIAV, Instituto de Investiga\u00e7\u00e3o Agr\u00e1ria e Veterin\u00e1ria, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal"},{"name":"GeoBiotec, Faculdade de Ci\u00eancias e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2825-149 Caparica, Portugal"}]},{"given":"Ana F.","family":"Ferreira","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"IDMEC, Instituto Superior T\u00e9cnico, Universidade de Lisboa, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2022,8,13]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1561","DOI":"10.1007\/s11368-013-0738-7","article-title":"Effects of biochars derived from different feedstocks and pyrolysis temperatures on soil physical and hydraulic properties","volume":"13","author":"Lei","year":"2013","journal-title":"J. Soils Sediments"},{"key":"ref_2","unstructured":"Masiello, C., Dugan, B., Brewer, C., Spokas, K., Novak, J., and Liu, Z. (2021). Biochar Effects on Soil Hydrology. Biochar for Environmental Management, Science, Technology and Implementation, Routledge."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2643","DOI":"10.1021\/ef4000769","article-title":"Water Holding Capacity and Absorption Properties of Wood Chars","volume":"27","author":"Zhang","year":"2013","journal-title":"Energy Fuels"},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Hafeez, A., Pan, T., Tian, J., and Cai, K. (2022). Modified Biochars and Their Effects on Soil Quality: A Review. Environments, 9.","DOI":"10.3390\/environments9050060"},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1221","DOI":"10.1016\/j.rser.2017.03.140","article-title":"Biomass resources in Portugal: Current status and prospects","volume":"78","author":"Ferreira","year":"2017","journal-title":"Renew. Sustain. Energy Rev."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"37","DOI":"10.1016\/S0960-8524(01)00118-3","article-title":"Energy production from biomass (part 1): Overview of biomass","volume":"83","author":"McKendry","year":"2002","journal-title":"Bioresour. Technol."},{"key":"ref_7","unstructured":"Shackley, S., Ruysschaert, G., Zwart, K., and Glaser, B. (2020). Biochar Properties, Ch.3 in Biochar in European Soils and Agriculture, Science and Practiceo Title, Earthscan from Routledge."},{"key":"ref_8","unstructured":"Lehmann, J., and Stephen, J. (2021). Characteristics of Biochar: Physical and Structural Properties. Biochar for Environmental Management, Routledge."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1494","DOI":"10.19045\/bspab.2017.600161","article-title":"Potential value of biochar as a soil amendment: A review","volume":"6","author":"Irfan","year":"2017","journal-title":"Pure Appl. Biol."},{"key":"ref_10","unstructured":"Troeh, F., and Thompson, L. (2005). Soils and Soil Fertility, Blackwell Publishing."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"437","DOI":"10.1071\/SR08036","article-title":"Using poultry litter biochars as soil amendments","volume":"46","author":"Chan","year":"2008","journal-title":"Aust. J. Soil Res."},{"key":"ref_12","unstructured":"Lehmann, J., and Joseph, S. (2009). Physical Properties of Biochar, Chapter 2. Biochar for Environmental Management, Routledge."},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"65","DOI":"10.1016\/j.eja.2014.09.006","article-title":"Impact of a woody biochar on properties of a sandy loam soil and spring barley during a two-year field experiment","volume":"62","author":"Nelissen","year":"2015","journal-title":"Eur. J. Agron."},{"key":"ref_14","unstructured":"Cross, A., Zwart, K., Shackley, S., and Ruysschaert, G. (2016). The Role of Biochar in Agricultural Soils. Biochar in European Soils and Agriculture: Science and Practice, Routledge."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"34","DOI":"10.1016\/j.biombioe.2012.01.033","article-title":"Hydrologic properties of biochars produced at different temperatures","volume":"41","author":"Kinney","year":"2012","journal-title":"Biomass Bioenergy"},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"310","DOI":"10.1097\/SS.0b013e31824e5593","article-title":"Biochars Impact on Soil-Moisture Storage in an Ultisol and Two Aridisols","volume":"177","author":"Novak","year":"2012","journal-title":"Soil Sci."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"196","DOI":"10.1016\/j.biombioe.2013.12.010","article-title":"Water uptake in biochars: The roles of porosity and hydrophobicity","volume":"61","author":"Gray","year":"2014","journal-title":"Biomass Bioenergy"},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"655","DOI":"10.1016\/0016-2361(91)90181-9","article-title":"Origins and functions of macroporosity in activated carbons from coal and wood precursors","volume":"70","author":"Wildman","year":"1991","journal-title":"Fuel"},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3587","DOI":"10.1021\/ie201309r","article-title":"Multiple Controls on the Chemical and Physical Structure of Biochars","volume":"51","author":"Sun","year":"2012","journal-title":"Ind. Eng. Chem. Res."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"4649","DOI":"10.1021\/es035034w","article-title":"Compositions and Sorptive Properties of Crop Residue-Derived Chars","volume":"38","author":"Chun","year":"2004","journal-title":"Environ. Sci. Technol."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"177","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jaap.2012.08.005","article-title":"Evaluation of the porous structure development of chars from pyrolysis of rice straw: Effects of pyrolysis temperature and heating rate","volume":"98","author":"Fu","year":"2012","journal-title":"J. Anal. Appl. Pyrolysis"},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"190","DOI":"10.1016\/j.indcrop.2008.02.012","article-title":"Effects of carbonization temperatures on characteristics of porosity in coconut shell chars and activated carbons derived from carbonized coconut shell chars","volume":"28","author":"Li","year":"2008","journal-title":"Ind. Crop. Prod."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Marsh, H., and Rodr\u00edguez-Reinoso, F. (2006). Chapter 4-Characterization of Activated Carbon. Activated Carbon, Elsevier Science Ltd.","DOI":"10.1016\/B978-008044463-5\/50018-2"},{"key":"ref_24","first-page":"195","article-title":"Characterization of Designer Biochar Produced at Different Temperatures and Their Effects on a Loamy Sand","volume":"3","author":"Novak","year":"2009","journal-title":"Ann. Environ. Sci."},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"105946","DOI":"10.1016\/j.biombioe.2020.105946","article-title":"A decision support method for biochars characterization from carbonization of grape pomace","volume":"145","author":"Ferreira","year":"2021","journal-title":"Biomass Bioenergy"},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Basu, P. (2013). Chapter 5-Pyrolysis. Biomass Gasification, Pyrolysis and Torrefaction, Academic Press. [2nd ed.].","DOI":"10.1016\/B978-0-12-396488-5.00005-8"},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"253","DOI":"10.1007\/s42773-020-00047-1","article-title":"Production, activation, and applications of biochar in recent times","volume":"2","author":"Sakhiya","year":"2020","journal-title":"Biochar"},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e00155","DOI":"10.1016\/j.heliyon.2016.e00155","article-title":"Activated carbon from flash pyrolysis of eucalyptus residue","volume":"2","year":"2016","journal-title":"Heliyon"},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"53","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cej.2004.06.011","article-title":"Preparation of activated carbon from forest and agricultural residues through CO2 activation","volume":"105","author":"Zhang","year":"2004","journal-title":"Chem. Eng. J."},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1051","DOI":"10.1515\/pac-2014-1117","article-title":"Physisorption of gases, with special reference to the evaluation of surface area and pore size distribution (IUPAC Technical Report)","volume":"87","author":"Thommes","year":"2015","journal-title":"Pure Appl. Chem."},{"key":"ref_31","unstructured":"Rouquerol, F., Rouquerol, J., Sing, K.S.W., Llewellyn, P., and Maurin, G. (2014). Adsorption by Powders and Porous Solids: Principles, Methodology and Applications, Elsevier. [2nd ed.]."},{"key":"ref_32","unstructured":"Fong, A., and Tuli, A. (2018). Determination of Soil Water Characteristic Curve Using 5 Bar Ceramic Pressure Plate Extractor. Standard Operating Procedure Number: METH016.00, California Department of Pesticide Regulation, Environmental Monitoring Branch."},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"892","DOI":"10.2136\/sssaj1980.03615995004400050002x","article-title":"A Closed-form Equation for Predicting the Hydraulic Conductivity of Unsaturated Soils","volume":"44","year":"1980","journal-title":"Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J."},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"101","DOI":"10.1016\/j.fuproc.2017.09.025","article-title":"Understanding water retention behavior and mechanism in bio-char","volume":"169","author":"Bikbulatova","year":"2018","journal-title":"Fuel Process. Technol."},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"264","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jaap.2008.04.004","article-title":"Reactivity and porosity development during pyrolysis and physical activation in CO2 or steam of kraft and hydrolytic lignins","volume":"82","author":"Carrott","year":"2008","journal-title":"J. Anal. Appl. Pyrolysis"},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"717","DOI":"10.1016\/j.plaphy.2005.07.001","article-title":"The application of micro-FTIR spectroscopy to analyze nutrient stress-related changes in biomass composition of phytoplankton algae","volume":"43","author":"Stehfest","year":"2005","journal-title":"Plant Physiol. Biochem."},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1572","DOI":"10.1016\/j.saa.2011.02.002","article-title":"Molecular and structural characteristics in toxic algae cultures of Ostreopsis ovata and Ostreopsis spp. evidenced by FTIR and FTNIR spectroscopy","volume":"78","author":"Mecozzi","year":"2011","journal-title":"Spectrochim. Acta A Mol. Biomol. Spectrosc."},{"key":"ref_38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"365","DOI":"10.1016\/j.energy.2015.04.078","article-title":"Evaluation of thermochemical properties of raw and extracted microalgae","volume":"92","author":"Ferreira","year":"2015","journal-title":"Energy"},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Paulo, I., Costa, L., Rodrigues, A., Ori\u0161kov\u00e1, S., Matos, S., Gon\u00e7alves, D., Gon\u00e7alves, A.R., Silva, L., Vieira, S., and Bordado, J.C. (2022). Acid-Catalyzed Liquefaction of Biomasses from Poplar Clones for Short Rotation Coppice Cultivations. Molecules, 27.","DOI":"10.3390\/molecules27010304"},{"key":"ref_40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Goncalves, D., Ori\u0161kov\u00e1, S., Matos, S., Machado, H., Vieira, S., Bastos, D., Gaspar, D., Paiva, R., Bordado, J.C., and Rodrigues, A. (2021). Thermochemical Liquefaction as a Cleaner and Efficient Route for Valuing Pinewood Residues from Forest Fires. Molecules, 26.","DOI":"10.3390\/molecules26237156"},{"key":"ref_41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"246","DOI":"10.5539\/mas.v9n4p246","article-title":"Comparison of Biochar Formation from Various Agricultural By-Products Using FTIR Spectroscopy","volume":"9","author":"Liu","year":"2015","journal-title":"Mod. Appl. Sci."},{"key":"ref_42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"11","DOI":"10.1016\/j.clay.2019.04.016","article-title":"Structural characterization of organo-montmorillonites prepared from a series of primary alkylamines salts: Mid-IR and near-IR study","volume":"176","year":"2019","journal-title":"Appl. Clay Sci."},{"key":"ref_43","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"103638","DOI":"10.1016\/j.advwatres.2020.103638","article-title":"Predicting water retention of biochar-amended soil from independent measurements of biochar and soil properties","volume":"142","author":"Yi","year":"2020","journal-title":"Adv. Water Resour."},{"key":"ref_44","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Liu, Z., Dugan, B., Masiello, C., and Gonnermann, H.M. (2017). Biochar particle size, shape, and porosity act together to influence soil water properties. PLoS ONE, 12.","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0179079"}],"container-title":["Energies"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1996-1073\/15\/16\/5882\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,11]],"date-time":"2025-10-11T00:08:21Z","timestamp":1760141301000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1996-1073\/15\/16\/5882"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2022,8,13]]},"references-count":44,"journal-issue":{"issue":"16","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2022,8]]}},"alternative-id":["en15165882"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/en15165882","relation":{},"ISSN":["1996-1073"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1996-1073","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2022,8,13]]}}}