The chemical composition of biochar is determined by the chemical profile of the material the by-product is made of and the pyrolysis conditions. Analysis of commercial biochar detected similarities to the chemical profile of hardwood, which was used as an object of pyrolysis for biochar production and showed the presence of bridge-forming cations, such as manganese, iron, and sodium. Despite frequently being reported in existing literature, the current study showed that the redox potential of biochar is not associated with biochar’s ability to recover certain anions. No association was detected between biochar’s redox potential and the material nitrate sorption capacity. In fact, higher redox potential values were associated with lower nitrate absorption. In the case of the anion exchange capacity of biochar, a direct association between this electrochemical property of the by-product and its redox potential was observed. However, redox potential’s impact on anion exchange capacity can be inhibited by the presence of organic compounds in biochar’s chemical profile. The chemical oxidation of biochar is a complex process and is a research priority for a potential role to mitigate enteric methanogenesis in livestock.
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