The potential of clay-and zeolite-based materials used in agricultural systems: Insights into greenhouse gas emission mitigation
Over the past two centuries, the atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases (GHGs) have reached unprecedented levels because of population growth and urbanization, uncontrolled industrialization, deforestation and agricultural expansion. While agricultural expansion is inevitable, accelerating in-situ soil storage via adsorption is perhaps one of the most feasible strategies for GHG abatement. For this purpose, naturally occurring…
Optimization of Aerobic Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor Performance for Sulfate Removal Using Response Surface Methodology: The Experience of University-Industry Collaboration
This study investigates the performance of an aerobic Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (MBBR) for the treatment of sulfate-rich wastewater under varying influent sulfate concentrations. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was applied using synthetic wastewater to evaluate the effects of hydraulic retention time (HRT), influent sulfate concentration, and carrier filling ratio on chemical oxygen demand (COD) and…
Methane capture potential of raw Australian halloysite nanotubes-rich kaolin, its ball-milled, calcined and biocomposite materials
In vitro Efficacy of Kaolin Clay-Embedded Garlic Powder in Ruminal Methane Abatement in Cattle
Cattle emit significant methane (CH 4 ) through ruminal digestion, making this important industry a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. Mitigation strategies are essential, and methane-reducing feed additives offer a sustainable solution. Methane inhibitors, including plant extracts, chemical agents, and aluminosilicate minerals have been tested. Among minerals, clay minerals are promising due to cattle's…
In vitro study of halloysite-kaolinite mixed mineral added to cattle rumen fluid: Methane abatement and the fate of ruminal biota
Halloysite nanotubes-based adsorbents for carbon capture and secondary utilization: Recent developments and future prospects
Rising atmospheric CO 2 concentrations have intensified the need for efficient capture technologies coupled with sustainable end-use pathways. Halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) and HNTs-rich materials are emerging as promising sorbent platforms due to their natural abundance, mechanical robustness, tubular morphology, and tunable surface chemistry. This review summarizes recent developments in HNTs-based materials for carbon capture, focusing…
From root to grain: multi‑omics reveals how nitrogen, CO₂, and microbes tune wheat drought resilience and grain quality
Plant’s available nitrogen status, atmospheric CO₂ concentration and soil microbiome composition interact to modulate plant drought responses, yet their combined effects on grain yield and grain composition remain poorly characterised. Here, four bread wheat cultivars grown across two consecutive seasons (2022-2023) at the INRAE field-trial site in Clermont-Ferrand, France, under four treatment combinations – contrasting…
Using regulation to tackle land pollution
Global consensus on the definition of land pollution may not be available, but various definitions refer to aspects of land degradation in the form of land contamination.“Land contamination can result from a range of intended, accidental, or naturally occurring activities and events, including manufacturing, mineral extraction, the abandonment of mines, national defence activities, waste disposal,…
Evaluating Halloysite-Rich Kaolin/Biopolymer Composites for Enhanced Carbon Capture—A Study of Isotherms and Mechanisms
Anthropogenic CO2 emissions have accelerated climate change, prompting the need for effective capture technologies. Adsorption using clay-based sorbents offers an eco-friendly alternative, although performance often requires enhancement. This study explored mechanochemical modification of two halloysite-rich kaolin clay samples—iron-poor (Hal) and iron-rich (HalFe)—using locust bean gum and quillaja saponin and compared their CO2 uptake with the…
The unintended consequences of nitrogen: Addressing pollution from N-Ous fertilizers with potential remedies
Nitrogen (N) plays a crucial role in crop and pasture production, is mostly supplied to plants in the form of synthetic fertilizers. Despite extensive research and development, commercially available N fertilizers continue to exhibit low nutrient use efficiency (NUE). Indiscriminate application and low NUE contribute to substantial N losses from soils, resulting in economic losses…
GEO-7 Report Chapter 4. Land and soils
Kaolin clay-based diets for managing livestock's health and methane emission problem
Increased livestock production is essential to meet the rising food and agri-services demand. However, livestock emit 70–95 % of agricultural methane (CH4), a potent greenhouse gas, through their enteric fermentation. While various feed additives have been proposed to address CH4 emissions and livestock production, this review highlights the potential of kaolin clays to serve these benefits…
Clay Minerals for Environmental and Agricultural Applications: Link to UN SDGs and Net Zero Goals
Bioremediation of heavy metal(loid)s in agricultural soils and crops
Heavy metal(loid) contamination in crops threatens the quality and safety of food and fodder. This contamination affects human health, as non-biodegradable heavy metal(loid)s can build up in the body through the food chain and bioaccumulation processes. Although heavy metal(loid)s exist naturally, their displacement and extensive use in chemicals and consumer products heighten the risk of…
Functionalization of halloysite nanotubes as remediation agents for organic and inorganic contaminants: Insights into synthesis routes, removal techniques, and eco-friendly …
Halloysite is considered a promising natural clay mineral due to its unique multi-rolled tubular structure (nanotubes), tunable surface properties, high aspect ratio, and natural abundance. Halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) have attracted significant interest for being used as support material for other active chemical agents. The resultant functional materials can be effectively used in wastewater treatment. This…
Mechanochemically Activated Halloysite Nanotube-Rich Kaolin Clay As a Carrier for Slow-Release Phosphate Fertilizer
Formulation of sustainable slow-release phosphate (SRP) fertilizers using low-cost carrier materials is a growing area of research. This fertilizer can prevent its nutrient loss caused by surface runoff or soil leaching. Here, we investigated the mechanochemical activation of halloysite-rich kaolin clay by planetary ball milling and produced an enhanced SRP fertilizing substrate. The milling process…
Natural kaolin minerals with varying iron contents reduced cattle’s enteric methane generation in vitro
Kaolin, a dominant mineral group in geophagic soil, often contains iron impurities that incur purification costs. Valorizing kaolin for livestock applications like ruminant methane (CH4) suppression without purification is promising but not well studied. This study used two kaolin clay samples collected from a Western Australia deposit, and tested their inclusion in a basal diet…
‘Geophagy’and Clay Minerals: Influencing Ruminal Microbial Fermentation for Methane Mitigation
Methane is a greenhouse gas with high warming potential, and ruminants like cattle and sheep are a major source of its emission. In the rumen, the first stomach compartment, diverse microorganisms and fauna live, including archaea, bacteria, protozoa, nematodes, and fungi. They participate in complex fermentation processes. During rumen fermentation, various gases are produced, dominantly…
Clay minerals-based additives for the in situ bioremediation of hydrocarbon-contaminated agricultural soils
Agricultural soils can be contaminated with various compounds as a result of their both direct (point source) and indirect inputs (non-point source). Contaminated soils adversely affect soil productivity, natural ecosystems, food quality, and human health (Behera et al., 2021). The contamination in the agricultural landscapes has spread significantly in recent decades, driven by industrial development,…
Carbon Capture Efficiency of Mechanically Activated Australian Halloysite-Rich Kaolin with Varying Iron Impurities and Its Potential Reuse for Removing Dyes from Water
Sustainable strategies are required to mitigate elevated atmospheric CO2 levels. Achieving that by adsorption, especially by using clay-based adsorbents, drew attention. These are even more promising when these adsorbents are obtained by low-cost modifications. This study evaluates the effect of ball milling on the carbon capture performance of Australian halloysite nanotube (HNT)-rich kaolin samples: one…