Oxidation resistance of biochars as a function of feedstock and pyrolysis condition

Assessing biochar's ability to resist oxidation is fundamental to understanding its potential to sequester carbon. Chemical oxidation exhibits good performance in estimating the oxidation resistance of biochar. Herein, oxidation resistance of 14 types of biochars produced from four feedstocks at different pyrolysis conditions (hydrothermal versus thermal carbonization) was investigated via hydrogen peroxide oxidation with varying concentrations. The oxidation resistance of organic carbon (C) of hydrochars was relatively higher than that of 250°C pyrochars (P250) but was comparable to that of 450°C pyrochars (P450). Both hydrochars and P450 from ash-rich feedstocks contained at least three different C pools (5.9-18.3% labile, 43.2-56.5% semi-labile and 26.9-45.9% stable C). Part (<33%) of aromatic C within 600°C pyrochars (P600) was easily oxidizable, which consisted of amorphous C. The influence of pyrolysis temperature upon oxidation resistance of biochars depended on the feedstock. For ash-rich feedstock (rice straw, swine manure and poultry litter), the oxidation resistance of biochars was determined by both aromaticity and mineral components, and mineral protection was regulated by pyrolysis conditions. The amorphous silicon within hydrochars and P450 could interact with C, preventing C from being oxidized, to some extent. Nevertheless, this type of protection did not occur for P250 and P600.