[Properties of maize stalk biochar produced under different pyrolysis temperatures and its sorption capability to...

Biochar was made from maize stalk under three different temperatures of 300, 500 and 700 degreeC. The elemental composition of biochar was measured by elemental analyzer. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to measure the surface morphology. Sorption of naphthalene to biochar was researched by batch sorption experiments. Results showed that, with the increase of temperature, C content increased from 66. 79% to 76. 30% , H and O contents decreased from 4.92% and 19. 25% to 3. 18% and 9.53%, respectively; H/C, O/C, (O + N)/C, aromaticity and hydrophobicity increased, and polarity decreased. SEM results showed that maize stalk biochar was platy particles, and its roughness of surface increased with increasing temperature. The sorption of naphthalene on biochar followed the Lagergren pseudo-second order dynamic sorption model. Initial sorption rate and equilibrium sorption capacity increased as preparation temperatures increased at the same initial concentration of naphthalene. The isotherm sorption behavior can be described by the Freundlich model, which indicated that, as pyrolysis temperature increased, the sorption capacity of biochar increased, and nonlinearity increased first and then decreased. Biochar derived from maize stalk had distinct features when compared with other feedstocks, and its elemental composition, surface features and sorption behaviors were significantly influenced by pyrolysis temperature.