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Physical, Chemical and Biological Characterization of Six Biochars Produced for the Remediation of Contaminated Sites
Published on: November 28, 2014
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Banana pseudo-stem biochar derived from slow and fast pyrolysis process
Nurhayati Abdullah1, Rahmad Mohd Taib2, Nur Syairah Mohamad Aziz1
1Energy Studies Laboratory, School of Physics, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800, Minden, Penang, Malaysia.
Heliyon
|January 27, 2023
Summary
Banana pseudo-stem (BPS) biochar produced via slow pyrolysis offers superior carbon content, heating value, and surface area compared to fast pyrolysis. This makes slow-pyrolyzed BPS biochar a promising material for soil improvement and biofuel applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Chemical Engineering
- Environmental Science
Background:
- Banana pseudo-stem (BPS) is an abundant agricultural waste with potential for valorization.
- Pyrolysis is a thermochemical process used to convert biomass into biochar, a carbon-rich material.
- Understanding the influence of pyrolysis type on BPS biochar properties is crucial for its effective application.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate and compare the properties of BPS biochar produced using fast and slow pyrolysis methods.
- To investigate the effects of pyrolysis temperature on biochar yield and characteristics.
- To assess the suitability of BPS biochar for soil amelioration and solid biofuel applications.
Main Methods:
- Banana pseudo-stem was subjected to fast pyrolysis in a fluidized-bed reactor and slow pyrolysis in a fixed-bed reactor.
- Pyrolysis experiments were conducted at various temperatures, with a focus on 500°C.
- Characterization of biochar properties included analysis of yield, carbon content, heating value, surface area, and surface morphology (FESEM).
Main Results:
- Biochar yield decreased with increasing pyrolysis temperature for both methods.
- Fast pyrolysis yielded a higher percentage of biochar (40.3%) than slow pyrolysis (34.9%) at 500°C.
- Slow pyrolysis biochar exhibited higher carbon content, heating value, and surface area, with lower ash content compared to fast pyrolysis biochar at 500°C.
- FESEM analysis revealed distinct differences in surface morphology and pore structure between fast and slow pyrolyzed BPS biochar.
Conclusions:
- Slow pyrolysis is more effective in producing high-quality BPS biochar with enhanced properties suitable for advanced applications.
- BPS biochar, particularly from slow pyrolysis, demonstrates significant potential as an amendment for soil improvement and as a sustainable solid biofuel.
- The study highlights the importance of selecting the appropriate pyrolysis method for optimizing biochar characteristics based on desired applications.
