Comparative production of biochars from corn stalk and cow manure

The aim of the present work was to compare corn stalk (CS) and cow manure (CM) for hydrochar production at different reaction temperatures (180-260 °C) and retention times (1-4 h). CM and CS resulted in hydrochars with significantly different physicochemical properties; however, both led to similar yields (30-65%). CM-derived hydrochar had a lower carbon content but a higher nitrogen and ash content than CS-derived hydrochar. CM-derived hydrochar demonstrated potential as a soil amendment due to its higher content of nitrogen, the presence of surface functional groups and higher specific surface area in comparison to CS-derived hydrochar. In comparison, CS-derived hydrochar demonstrated suitability as a solid fuel due to its high heating value and low ignition temperature. This study revealed that the composition of lignocellulose significantly impacted the properties and thus potential applications of hydrochar.