Thomas D. Bucheli
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View article: Efficient removal of microplastic particles from wastewater through formation of heteroagglomerates during the activated sludge process
Efficient removal of microplastic particles from wastewater through formation of heteroagglomerates during the activated sludge process Open
Microplastic particles (MPs) are efficiently transferred from wastewater to sludge during wastewater treatment, but it remains unclear to what extent the physical-chemical properties (e.g., polymer type, shape, size) of the MPs affect thei…
View article: Biochar acidification increased sorption and reduced leaching of nitrate
Biochar acidification increased sorption and reduced leaching of nitrate Open
Biochar can reduce nitrate (NO3-) leaching from soil, yet typically only at high, uneconomic application rates. Therefore, biochar should be produced and modified to achieve high sorption capacity. Increased NO3- sorption at acidic pH has …
View article: Proxies for use in biochar decay models: Hydropyrolysis, electric conductivity, and H/Corg molar ratio
Proxies for use in biochar decay models: Hydropyrolysis, electric conductivity, and H/Corg molar ratio Open
Biochar is a carbon-rich material produced via pyrolysis that is increasingly recognized for its role in carbon sequestration, particularly through its application in agriculture and materials. However, accurately predicting the long-term …
View article: Trace-level Multi-residue Analysis of Pesticides in Soil: Advances, Challenges, and Future Directions
Trace-level Multi-residue Analysis of Pesticides in Soil: Advances, Challenges, and Future Directions Open
Pesticides are frequently applied in large quantities in agriculture, resulting in their widespread presence in agricultural areas. Additionally, processes such as drift and volatilization contribute to their dispersion far beyond treated …
View article: Soil microbial and plant responses to increasing antibiotic concentration: a case study of five antibiotics
Soil microbial and plant responses to increasing antibiotic concentration: a case study of five antibiotics Open
Antibiotic contamination from biogenic waste in agricultural soils poses a significant threat to soil health and crop productivity. We investigated the effect of antibiotics on the soil microbial community, antibiotic resistance genes (ARG…
View article: Double the trouble: High levels of both synthetic pesticides and copper in vineyard soils
Double the trouble: High levels of both synthetic pesticides and copper in vineyard soils Open
The widespread use of pesticides raises concerns about their impact on soil health. Although vineyard soils are strongly exposed to both, synthetic pesticides and copper, a systematic, detailed, and joint assessment has been lacking. In ou…
View article: An Analytical Workflow to Quantify Biodegradable Polyesters in Soils and Its Application to Incubation Experiments
An Analytical Workflow to Quantify Biodegradable Polyesters in Soils and Its Application to Incubation Experiments Open
Soil biodegradable polyesters are designed to undergo to microbial utilization in aerobic soils, forming carbon dioxide and microbial biomass. These polyesters are thus viable substitutes for conventional, persistent polymers (e.g., polyet…
View article: Extended pesticide soil monitoring in Cuban potato (<i>Solanum tuberosum</i> L.) production: residue co-occurrence, dissipation rates, ecological risks, and implications
Extended pesticide soil monitoring in Cuban potato (<i>Solanum tuberosum</i> L.) production: residue co-occurrence, dissipation rates, ecological risks, and implications Open
While our extended pesticide soil monitoring under potato cultivation confirms generally shorter half-lives under tropical conditions, the corresponding residues might still pose a risk to terrestrial ecosystems.
View article: Biochar Production From Plastic‐Contaminated Biomass
Biochar Production From Plastic‐Contaminated Biomass Open
Anaerobic digestion and composting of biowastes are vital pathways to recycle carbon and nutrients for agriculture. However, plastic contamination of soil amendments and fertilizers made from biowastes is a relevant source of (micro‐) plas…
View article: Biochars from chlorine-rich feedstock are low in polychlorinated dioxins, furans and biphenyls
Biochars from chlorine-rich feedstock are low in polychlorinated dioxins, furans and biphenyls Open
Chlorinated aromatic hydrocarbons like polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and -furans (PCDD/F) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) are omnipresent in the environment due to historic production, use, and (unintended) release. Nowadays, their…
View article: Quantification of soil organic carbon: the challenge of biochar-induced spatial heterogeneity
Quantification of soil organic carbon: the challenge of biochar-induced spatial heterogeneity Open
Introduction Soil organic carbon (SOC) content can vary significantly across a given plot. Therefore, a representative sampling is a prerequisite to obtain meaningful results from analysis and of utter importance when SOC quantification is…
View article: Concomitant determination of pesticides in soil and drainage water over a potato cropping season reveal dissipations largely in accordance with respective models
Concomitant determination of pesticides in soil and drainage water over a potato cropping season reveal dissipations largely in accordance with respective models Open
Pesticides are widely used in agriculture where they do not only reach their targets but also distribute to other environmental compartments and negatively affect non-target organisms. To prospectively assess their environmental risk, seve…
View article: Validation of a modified QuEChERS method for the quantification of residues of currently used pesticides in Cuban agricultural soils, using gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry
Validation of a modified QuEChERS method for the quantification of residues of currently used pesticides in Cuban agricultural soils, using gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry Open
We present an analytical method to detect and quantify residues of currently used pesticides (CUPs), which include 31 active ingredients (ai) and seven transformation products (TPs) in tropical and agricultural soils of Cuba. Ten isotopica…
View article: Quantifying soil organic carbon after biochar application: how to avoid (the risk of) counting CDR twice?
Quantifying soil organic carbon after biochar application: how to avoid (the risk of) counting CDR twice? Open
Pyrogenic carbon capture and storage (PyCCS), which comprises the production of biomass, its pyrolysis, and the non-oxidative use of the biochar to create carbon sinks, has been identified as a promising negative emission technology with c…
View article: Pesticides in soil, groundwater and food in Latin America as part of one health
Pesticides in soil, groundwater and food in Latin America as part of one health Open
We here report of a conference about “Pesticides in Soil, Groundwater and Food in Latin America as part of One Health” that took place at the “IV Seminario Internacional de Sanidad Agropecuaria (SISA)” in Varadero, Cuba, 8–12 May 2023. Res…
View article: Pesticides in Agricultural Soils: Major Findings from Various Monitoring Campaigns in Switzerland
Pesticides in Agricultural Soils: Major Findings from Various Monitoring Campaigns in Switzerland Open
Synthetic pesticides are widely applied in modern agriculture, where they are used against diseases, pests, and weeds to secure crop yield and quality. However, their intensive application has led to widespread contamination of the environ…
View article: Suspect Screening of Lupin-Produced Phytotoxins in Environmental Samples
Suspect Screening of Lupin-Produced Phytotoxins in Environmental Samples Open
Phytotoxins, secondary metabolites synthesized by plants, are now recognized as a new category of environmental micropollutants. Only a limited number of phytotoxins have been detected and reported in terrestrial and aquatic environments, …
View article: A multi-residue method for trace analysis of pesticides in soils with special emphasis on rigorous quality control
A multi-residue method for trace analysis of pesticides in soils with special emphasis on rigorous quality control Open
A multi-residue trace analytical method is presented to accurately quantify 146 currently used pesticides in (agricultural) soils with varying soil properties. Pesticides were extracted using an optimized quick, easy, cheap, effective, rug…
View article: Biochar from animal manure: A critical assessment on technical feasibility, economic viability, and ecological impact
Biochar from animal manure: A critical assessment on technical feasibility, economic viability, and ecological impact Open
Animal manure has been used to manage soil fertility since the dawn of agriculture. It provides plant nutrients and improves soil fertility. In the last decades, animal husbandry has been significantly expanded globally. Its economics were…
View article: Pesticide residues in agricultural soils in light of their on-farm application history
Pesticide residues in agricultural soils in light of their on-farm application history Open
The application of synthetic pesticides to agricultural fields for the protection of crops leads to the formation of residues in soils. While the short-term behavior of pesticide residues in soils after an application is generally known fr…
View article: Suspect Screening of Lupin-Produced Phytotoxins in Environmental Samples
Suspect Screening of Lupin-Produced Phytotoxins in Environmental Samples Open
Phytotoxins, the secondary metabolites synthesized by plants, are now recognized as a new category of environmental micropollutants. So far, only a limited number of phytotoxins have been detected and reported in terrestrial and aquatic en…
View article: Impact of biomass ash content on biochar carbon speciation and stability
Impact of biomass ash content on biochar carbon speciation and stability Open
Amending biomass with wood ash (2-10%) is a novel strategy in biochar production to increase the amount of biomass carbon retained in the solid phase (biomass to biochar) during pyrolysis by up to 35%. Thereby, the carbon sink potential of…
View article: Biodegradation of commercial mulch films in Swiss agricultural soils: Results from combined laboratory, mesocosm and field incubations
Biodegradation of commercial mulch films in Swiss agricultural soils: Results from combined laboratory, mesocosm and field incubations Open
Non-biodegradable polyethylene mulch films are widely used in agriculture to allow for an extended growing season and to increase crop yields. These mulch films are, however, difficult to completely recollect from the field after use, part…
View article: Sometimes size matters – new insights into the physical disintegration of biochar
Sometimes size matters – new insights into the physical disintegration of biochar Open
It is often assumed that the physical disintegration of biochar determines its persistence and mobility in soil. Freeze-thawing can cause physical stress on biochar, breaking it down into smaller and presumably more reactive particles. We …
View article: Small biochar particles hardly disintegrate under cryo-stress
Small biochar particles hardly disintegrate under cryo-stress Open
Physical disintegration of biochar has been postulated to determine the persistence and mobility in soil of this recalcitrant carbon pool. Therein, freeze–thaw cycling can induce substantial physical stress to biochars. We here investigate…