Pyrolysis characteristics, kinetics, and biochar of fermented pine sawdust-based waste

The objective of current study is to explore the energy recovery potential of fermentation residues. In this perspective, pyrolysis characteristics, kinetics, and modified biochar derived from pine sawdust after fermentation (FPD) were determined, and comparison was established with pine sawdust (PD). The variation range of comprehensive pyrolysis index (CPI) values of FPD was found 6.51 × 10^-7-16.38 × 10^-7%²·min^-2·°C^-3, significantly higher than that of untreated samples determined under the same experimental conditions. The average activation energy of FPD was 367.95 kJ/mol, 389.45 kJ/mol, and 346.55 kJ/mol calculated by Flynn-Wall-Ozawa (FWO) method, Kissinger-Akahira-Sonuse (KAS), and Starink method respectively, and importantly, these values are much higher than those of PD. Additionally, fermentation could enhance the adsorption capacity for methylene blue of biochar from 0.76 mg/g to 1.6 mg/g due to the abundant surface functional groups and three-dimensional internal pore structure. The adsorption pattern of fermented pine wood shifted from chemisorption dominated to the synergetic adsorption of surface functional groups adsorption and intragranular filling. These results show that FPD has favorable pyrolytic properties, and the derived biochar has adsorption properties, which is the basis for designing pyrolysis process and reusing fermentation residues. HIGHLIGHTS: The FPD has higher values of CPI and activation energy than the PD. FPD-derived biochar has higher adsorption capacity than PD-derived biochar. The fermentation improves the pyrolysis performance. The fermentation enhances adsorption capacity due to unique structure of biochar.