Sustainable use of croplands is facing a challenge to maintain organic carbon (C) in soil. Pyrolyzed coal or coal char (CC) is a porous C material produced from the pyrolysis of coal containing high organic C, large surface area, and low bulk density like biochar (BC). This study evaluates corn (Zea mays L.) grain yield and selected soil properties in soil amended with CC and BC at two rates (22 and 44 Mg ha⁻¹) with farmyard manure (FM) (66 Mg ha⁻¹) and without FM addition. This field experiment was performed in sandy loam soil at the University of Wyoming’s Sustainable Agricultural Research and Extension Center (SAREC), Lingle, WY, USA. Two years of field study results indicated CC and BC applied at 22 Mg ha⁻¹ with FM resulted in significantly greater average corn grain yields (13.04–13.57 Mg ha⁻¹) compared to the no char’s treatment (11.42 Mg ha⁻¹). Soil organic matter (SOM) content was significantly greater in the higher application rates of CC and BC than in treatments without chars. Overall, soil nitrate nitrogen (NO₃-N), phosphorous (P), and potassium (K) were found significantly greater in CC and BC co-applied with FM treatments. Soil water-holding capacity (WHC) significantly improved in sandy loam soil (up to 27.6% more than the no-char treatment) at a greater concentration of char materials. This study suggests that char materials applied at a moderate rate (22 Mg ha⁻¹) with FM can improve soil properties and crop yield.

In-situ chemical oxidation is an effective groundwater remediation approach for delivering oxidants to the subsurface environment where various contaminants of concern, natural organic matter, and other reduced species within the soil consume the oxidants. The addition of these oxidants alters microbial activity changing the physical and chemical structure of the soil. This paper studied the effects of chemical oxidation on microbial activity with and without toluene. Several oxidants were used as part of the study: sodium percarbonate, hydrogen peroxide, potassium permanganate, and sodium persulfate evaluated at low, medium, and high concentrations. A series of biometer experiments seeded with microbe Pseudomonas putida F1 and soil sample and aqueous toluene solution for each oxidant was monitored by CO₂ production as a function of incubation days to evaluate the effects of oxidation on the microbial activity. Of the oxidants tested, permanganate oxidation resulted in the highest increase in microbial activity post oxidation based on CO₂ production both with and without the addition of toluene. The other oxidants exhibited a direct correlation between oxidant concentration and the change in permanganate chemical oxidant demand of the soil. However, there was no correlation between oxidant concentration and microbial activity. Each of the oxidants was shown to increase CO₂ yield except for sodium percarbonate, which had an adverse effect on microbial activity. It is likely that the increased microbial activity associated with permanganate oxidation was the result of chemical reactions between the oxidant and natural organic matter in the soil.

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) capture is a cornerstone of global carbon neutrality, yet the high energy penalty associated with solvent regeneration—particularly for monoethanolamine (MEA) systems—remains a major barrier to its sustainable deployment. This study presents a sustainable and high-performance catalytic solution using micro-sized iron oxyhydroxide (β-FeOOH). Characterized by a high specific surface area ($287 m²/g) and a synergistic distribution of abundant Lewis and Brønsted acid sites, the β-FeOOH catalyst significantly enhances CO₂ desorption kinetics. Experimental results demonstrate that the incorporation of β-FeOOH into a 30 wt% MEA solution increases the CO₂ desorption rate by 10.9% while simultaneously lowering the regeneration temperature from the conventional 120 °C to 85 °C. Such a reduction in thermal requirements offers a pathway to utilize low-grade industrial waste heat, drastically improving the process’s energy efficiency. Furthermore, the catalyst exhibited remarkable cyclic stability over ten consecutive cycles, maintaining its structural integrity and catalytic activity. These findings highlight β-FeOOH as an eco-friendly, cost-effective, and robust catalyst that aligns with the principles of green chemical engineering, offering a scalable strategy to enhance the sustainability of carbon capture operations.