CAHNRS > People Directory > Jim Amonette

Jim Amonette

  1. PNNL-WSU Joint Appointee
  2. CSANR Senior Research Fellow
Email Addressjim.amonette@wsu.edu

Biography

Jim Amonette is a soil chemist with more than 45 years of research experience in the areas of environmental geochemistry and soil mineralogy. He has been with the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) since 1986 and has held a Joint Appointment with CSANR at Washington State University since 2017. His WSU work focuses on assessing the climate-change mitigation potential of biochar technology across multiple scales. His primary scientific interest is to find ways of sustainably harnessing the large carbon flux passing through the terrestrial ecosystem to help mitigate global climate change.

Dr. Amonette has authored or coauthored more than 125 peer-reviewed scientific journal publications, numerous book chapters and technical reports, 7 patents in the areas of photoacoustic spectroscopy and slow-release nitrogen fertilizer, and a book on quantitative methods in soil mineralogy. His PNNL staff profile can be found at https://www.pnnl.gov/science/staff/staff_info.asp?staff_num=5639

Research Interests

  • Environmental geochemistry
  • Soil mineralogy
  • Carbon sequestration (terrestrial and geologic)
  • Mitigation of climate change
  • Biochar
  • Slow-release solid-nitride nitrogen fertilizer

Education and Credentials

  • Ph.D., Soil Chemistry, Iowa State University
  • M.S., Soil Chemistry, Iowa State University
  • B.S., Soil Science, New Mexico State University

Affiliations and Professional Service

  • Soil Science Society of America
    • Chair, Soil Mineralogy Division, 1994
    • Associate Editor, Soil Mineralogy Division, Soil Science Society of America Journal, 1994-1996
    • Bouyoucos Conference Co-Organizer, 2004
  • Clay Minerals Society
    • Associate Editor, Clays and Clay Minerals, 1998 – 2008
    • Council Member, 1996-1998; 2006-2008
    • Meeting Co-Chair, 2004
    • Meeting Deputy Chair 2020
  • American Chemical Society
  • American Geophysical Union
  • International Biochar Initiative

Awards and Recognitions

  • PNNL Laboratory Director’s Award: Fitzner-Eberhardt Award for Outstanding Contributions to Science and Engineering Education 2008
  • R&D100 Award for “In-Situ Redox Manipulation,” 1998

Selected Publications

Singh, B, JE Amonette, M Camps-Arbestain, and RS Kookana. (2024, in press). “A biochar classification system and associated test methods.” Chapter 9 in J. Lehmann and S. Joseph (eds) Biochar for Environmental Management: Science, Technology and Implementation, 3rd edition, Routledge, London UK, pp. xxx-yyy. https://www.routledge.com/Biochar-for-Environmental-Management-Science-Technology-and-Implementation/Lehmann-Joseph/p/book/9781032286150

Amonette, JE, GG Yorgey, and S Schiller. 2023. Technical Assessment of Potential Climate Impact and Economic Viability of Biochar Technologies for Small-Scale Agriculture in the Pacific Northwest. PNNL-33894. 75 pp. https://csanr.wsu.edu/publications/technical-assessment-of-potential-climate-impact-and-economic-viability-of-biochar-technologies-for-small-scale-agriculture-in-the-pacific-northwest/

Lehmann, J, A Cowie, CA Masiello, C Kammann, D Woolf, JE Amonette, ML Cayuela, M Camps-Arbestain, T Whitman. 2021. “Biochar in climate change mitigation.” Nature Geoscience 14:883-892. https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41561-021-00852-8

Zhang, J, JE Amonette, M Flury. 2021. “Effect of biochar and biochar particle size on plant-available water of sand, silt loam, and clay soil.” Soil & Tillage Research 212:104992. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2021.104992

Amonette, JE, H Blanco-Canqui, C Hassebrook, DA Laird, R Lal, J Lehmann, D Page-Dumroese. 2021. “Integrated biochar research: A roadmap.” Journal of Soil & Water Conservation 76:24A-29A. https://dx.doi.org/10.2489/jswc.2021.1115A

Amonette, JE, Archuleta, JG, Fuchs, MR, Hills, KM, Yorgey, GG, et al. 2021. Biomass to Biochar: Maximizing the Carbon Value. Report from virtual workshop held April-September 2021. Center for Sustaining Agriculture & Natural Resources, Washington State University, Pullman, WA. https://csanr.wsu.edu/biomass2biochar/

Amonette, J.E. 2021. Technical Potential for CO2 Drawdown using Biochar in Washington State. Report for The Waste to Fuels Technology partnership 2019-2021 biennium: Advancing organics management in Washington State. Center for Sustaining Agriculture & Natural Resources, Washington State University, Pullman, WA. https://csanr.wsu.edu/publications/technical-potential-for-co2-drawdown-using-biochar-in-washington-state/

Liu, Q, B Liu, Y Zhang, T Hu, Z Lin, G Liu, X Wang, J Ma, H Wang, H Jin, PL Ambus, JE Amonette, Z Xie. 2019. “Biochar application as a tool to decrease soil nitrogen losses (NH3 volatilization, N2O emissions, and N leaching) from croplands: Options and mitigation strength in a global perspective.” Global Change Biology 25:2077-2093. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.14613

Liu, Q, YH Zhang, BJ Liu, JE Amonette, ZB Lin, G Liu, P Ambus, ZB Xie. 2018. “How does biochar influence soil N cycle? A meta-analysis.” Plant and Soil 426:211-225. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-018-3619-4.Amonette, JE, Jonathan L Barr, RL Erikson, LM Dobeck, Jamie L Barr, and JA Shaw. 2013. “Measurement of advective soil gas flux: results of field and laboratory experiments.” Environ. Earth Sci. 70:1717-1726. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-013-2259-5

Amonette, JE and J Matyáš. June 26, 2018. “Nitride-based controlled-release fertilizers and process for making same.” U. S. Patent 10,005,699. https://www.osti.gov/doepatents/biblio/1460562-nitride-based-controlled-release-fertilizers-process-making-same

Woolf D, JE Amonette, FA Street-Perrott, JC Lehmann, and S Joseph. 2010. “Sustainable biochar to mitigate global climate change.” Nature Communications 1:56. https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms1053

Amonette, JE, and S Joseph. 2009. “Characteristics of biochar – micro-chemical properties”, in J. Lehmann and S. Joseph (eds) Biochar for Environmental Management: Science and Technology, Earthscan, London, pp. 33-52.

Laird, DA, RC Brown, JE Amonette, and J Lehmann. 2009. “Review of the pyrolysis platform for producing bio-oil and biochar.” Biofuels, Bioproducts & Biorefining 3:547-562. https://doi.org/10.1002/bbb.169

Jastrow, JD, JE Amonette, and VL Bailey. 2007. “Mechanisms controlling soil carbon turnover and their potential application for enhancing carbon sequestration.” Climatic Change 80:5-23. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-006-9178-3

Nurmi, JT, PG Tratnyek, V Sarathy, DR Baer, JE Amonette, K Pecher, C-M Wang, JC Linehan, DW Matson, RL Penn, and MD Driessen. 2005. “Characterization and properties of metallic iron nanoparticles: spectroscopy, electrochemistry, and kinetics.” Environ. Sci. Technol. 39:1221-1230. https://doi.org/10.1021/es049190u

Amonette, JE, DJ Workman, DW Kennedy, JS Fruchter, and YA Gorby. 2000. “Dechlorination of carbon tetrachloride by Fe(II) associated with goethite.” Environ. Sci. Technol. 34:4606-4613. https://doi.org/10.1021/es9913582