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13 pages, 2675 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Removal Performance of KOH-Modified Biochar from Tropical Biomass on Tetracycline and Cr(VI)

by Qingxiang Wang, Yan Yue, Wenfei Liu, Qing Liu, Yu Song, Chengjun Ge and Hongfang Ma

Materials 2023, 16(11), 3994; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16113994 - 26 May 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1238

Biochar can be used to address the excessive use of tetracycline and micronutrient chromium (Cr) in wastewater that potentially threatens human health. However, there is little information about how the biochar, made from different tropical biomass, facilitates tetracycline and hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) removal [...] Read more.

Biochar can be used to address the excessive use of tetracycline and micronutrient chromium (Cr) in wastewater that potentially threatens human health. However, there is little information about how the biochar, made from different tropical biomass, facilitates tetracycline and hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) removal from aqueous solution. In this study, biochar was prepared from cassava stalk, rubber wood and sugarcane bagasse, then further modified with KOH to remove tetracycline and Cr(VI). Results showed that pore characteristics and redox capacity of biochar were improved after modification. KOH-modified rubber wood biochar had the highest removal of tetracycline and Cr(VI), 1.85 times and 6 times higher than unmodified biochar. Tetracycline and Cr(VI) can be removed by electrostatic adsorption, reduction reaction, π–π stacking interaction, hydrogen bonding, pore filling effect and surface complexation. These observations will improve the understanding of the simultaneous removal of tetracycline and anionic heavy metals from wastewater. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Progress of Biochar and Biomass Pyrolysis)

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11 pages, 3285 KiB

Open AccessArticle

High-Pressure Adsorption of CO₂ and CH₄ on Biochar—A Cost-Effective Sorbent for In Situ Applications

by Marcin Lutyński, Jan Kielar, Dawid Gajda, Marcel Mikeska and Jan Najser

Materials 2023, 16(3), 1266; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16031266 - 02 Feb 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1676

Abstract

The search for an effective, cost-efficient, and selective sorbent for CO₂ capture technologies has been a focus of research in recent years. Many technologies allow efficient separation of CO₂ from industrial gases; however, most of them (particularly amine absorption) are very [...] Read more.

The search for an effective, cost-efficient, and selective sorbent for CO₂ capture technologies has been a focus of research in recent years. Many technologies allow efficient separation of CO₂ from industrial gases; however, most of them (particularly amine absorption) are very energy-intensive processes not only from the point of view of operation but also solvent production. The aim of this study was to determine CO₂ and CH₄ sorption capacity of pyrolyzed spruce wood under a wide range of pressures for application as an effective adsorbent for gas separation technology such as Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) or Temperature Swing Adsorption (TSA). The idea behind this study was to reduce the carbon footprint related to the transport and manufacturing of sorbent for the separation unit by replacing it with a material that is the direct product of pyrolysis. The results show that pyrolyzed spruce wood has a considerable sorption capacity and selectivity towards CO₂ and CH₄. Excess sorption capacity reached 1.4 mmol·g⁻¹ for methane and 2.4 mmol·g⁻¹ for carbon dioxide. The calculated absolute sorption capacity was 1.75 mmol·g⁻¹ at 12.6 MPa for methane and 2.7 mmol·g⁻¹ at 4.7 MPa for carbon dioxide. The isotherms follow I type isotherm which is typical for microporous adsorbents. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Progress of Biochar and Biomass Pyrolysis)

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13 pages, 2057 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effect of Pyrolysis Temperature and the Source Biomass on the Properties of Biochar Produced for the Agronomical Applications as the Soil Conditioner

by Michal Kalina, Sarka Sovova, Jiri Svec, Monika Trudicova, Jan Hajzler, Leona Kubikova and Vojtech Enev

Materials 2022, 15(24), 8855; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15248855 - 12 Dec 2022

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2254

Abstract

Biochar is a versatile carbon-rich organic material originating from pyrolyzed biomass residues that possess the potential to stabilize organic carbon in the soil, improve soil fertility and water retention, and enhance plant growth. For the utilization of biochar as a soil conditioner, the [...] Read more.

Biochar is a versatile carbon-rich organic material originating from pyrolyzed biomass residues that possess the potential to stabilize organic carbon in the soil, improve soil fertility and water retention, and enhance plant growth. For the utilization of biochar as a soil conditioner, the mutual interconnection of the physicochemical properties of biochar with the production conditions used during the pyrolysis (temperature, heating rate, residence time) and the role of the origin of used biomass seem to be crucial. The aim of the research was focused on a comparison of the properties of biochar samples (originated from oat brans, mixed woodcut, corn residues and commercial compost) produced at different temperatures (400–700 °C) and different residence times (10 and 60 min). The results indicated similar structural features of produced biochar samples; nevertheless, the original biomass showed differences in physicochemical properties. The morphological and structural analysis showed well-developed aromatic porous structures for biochar samples originated from oat brans, mixed woodcut and corn residues. The higher pyrolysis temperature resulted in lower yields; however, it provided products with higher content of organic carbon and a more developed surface area. The lignocellulose biomass with higher contents of lignin is an attractive feedstock material for the production of biochar with potential agricultural applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Progress of Biochar and Biomass Pyrolysis)

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10 pages, 985 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Possible Utilization of Distillery Waste in the Carbonization Process

by Jacek Kluska

Materials 2022, 15(21), 7853; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15217853 - 07 Nov 2022

Viewed by 1270

Abstract

This paper characterizes the carbonization process in terms of the utilization of distillery waste in a laboratory-scale reactor. Due to the increase in market prices of wood and environmental protection laws, biomass waste, including distillery waste, is a potential source for biochar production. [...] Read more.

This paper characterizes the carbonization process in terms of the utilization of distillery waste in a laboratory-scale reactor. Due to the increase in market prices of wood and environmental protection laws, biomass waste, including distillery waste, is a potential source for biochar production. An experimental investigation of the carbonization process was carried out for different mixtures of distillery waste and oak sawdust. The obtained results showed that due to the European Standard, biochar from distillery waste could be used for the production of charcoal briquettes for barbecue applications. In addition, biochar from carbonization samples with 66, 50, and 33% distillery waste meet the standards defined by the International Biochar Initiative for HMs content. The analysis of the dynamics of the heating rate showed that adding wood to distillery waste significantly shortens the carbonization process, but this reduces the number of bio-oils produced and its calorific value. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Progress of Biochar and Biomass Pyrolysis)

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11 pages, 938 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Torrefaction on Fuel Properties of Aspiration Cleaning Residues

by Barbora Tamelová, Jan Malaťák, Jan Velebil, Arkadiusz Gendek and Monika Aniszewska

Materials 2022, 15(19), 6949; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15196949 - 07 Oct 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1070

Abstract

To maximise the use of biomass for energy purposes, there are various options for converting biomass to biofuels through thermochemical conversion processes, one of which is torrefaction. Higher utilisation of waste from the aspiration cleaning of grains, such as wheat or maize, could [...] Read more.

To maximise the use of biomass for energy purposes, there are various options for converting biomass to biofuels through thermochemical conversion processes, one of which is torrefaction. Higher utilisation of waste from the aspiration cleaning of grains, such as wheat or maize, could be one of the means through which the dependence on fossil fuels could be reduced in the spirit of a circular economy. In this study, the effect of torrefaction on fuel properties of agricultural residues was investigated. The tested materials were waste by-products from the aspiration cleaning of maize grains and waste from wheat. The materials were treated by torrefaction under a nitrogen atmosphere (225 °C, 250 °C, and 275 °C), over a residence time of 30 min. During the treatment, weight loss was monitored as a function of time. Proximate and elemental composition, as well as calorific values, were analysed before and after torrefaction. Torrefaction has a positive effect on the properties of the fuels in the samples studied, as shown by the results. The carbon content increased the most between temperatures of 250 °C and 275 °C, i.e., by 11.7% wt. in waste from maize. The oxygen content in the maize waste samples decreased by 38.99% wt. after torrefaction, and in wheat waste, it decreased by 37.20% wt. compared to the original. The net calorific value increased with increasing temperatures of process and reached a value of 23.56 MJ·kg⁻¹ at a peak temperature of 275 °C in by-products from maize. To express the influence of the treatments on combustion behaviour, stoichiometric combustion calculations were performed. Differences of up to 20% in stoichiometric combustion parameters were found between the two types of waste. A similar case was found for fuel consumption, where a difference of 19% was achieved for torrefaction at a temperature of 275 °C, which fundamentally differentiated these fuels. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Progress of Biochar and Biomass Pyrolysis)

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16 pages, 5330 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Analysis of Statistically Predicted Rate Constants for Pyrolysis of High-Density Plastic Using R Software

by Rao Adeel Un Nabi, Muhammad Yasin Naz, Shazia Shukrullah, Madiha Ghamkhar, Najeeb Ur Rehman, Muhammad Irfan, Ali O. Alqarni, Stanisław Legutko, Izabela Kruszelnicka, Dobrochna Ginter-Kramarczyk, Marek Ochowiak, Sylwia Włodarczak, Andżelika Krupińska and Magdalena Matuszak

Materials 2022, 15(17), 5910; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15175910 - 26 Aug 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1546

Abstract

The surge in plastic waste production has forced researchers to work on practically feasible recovery processes. Pyrolysis is a promising and intriguing option for the recycling of plastic waste. Developing a model that simulates the pyrolysis of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) as the most [...] Read more.

The surge in plastic waste production has forced researchers to work on practically feasible recovery processes. Pyrolysis is a promising and intriguing option for the recycling of plastic waste. Developing a model that simulates the pyrolysis of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) as the most common polymer is important in determining the impact of operational parameters on system behavior. The type and amount of primary products of pyrolysis, such as oil, gas, and waxes, can be predicted statistically using a multiple linear regression model (MLRM) in R software. To the best of our knowledge, the statistical estimation of kinetic rate constants for pyrolysis of high-density plastic through MLRM analysis using R software has never been reported in the literature. In this study, the temperature-dependent rate constants were fixed experimentally at 420 °C. The rate constants with differences of 0.02, 0.03, and 0.04 from empirically set values were analyzed for pyrolysis of HDPE using MLRM in R software. The added variable plots, scatter plots, and 3D plots demonstrated a good correlation between the dependent and predictor variables. The possible changes in the final products were also analyzed by applying a second-order differential equation solver (SODES) in MATLAB version R2020a. The outcomes of experimentally fixed-rate constants revealed an oil yield of 73% to 74%. The oil yield increased to 78% with a difference of 0.03 from the experimentally fixed rate constants, but light wax, heavy wax, and carbon black decreased. The increased oil and gas yield with reduced byproducts verifies the high significance of the conducted statistical analysis. The statistically predicted kinetic rate constants can be used to enhance the oil yield at an industrial scale. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Progress of Biochar and Biomass Pyrolysis)

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26 pages, 3671 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Study on the Effect of Hydrothermal Carbonization Parameters on Fuel Properties of Chicken Manure Hydrochar

by Małgorzata Hejna, Kacper Świechowski, Waheed A. Rasaq and Andrzej Białowiec

Materials 2022, 15(16), 5564; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15165564 - 13 Aug 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1792

Abstract

Economic development and population growth lead to the increased production of chicken manure, which is a problematic organic waste in terms of its amount, environmental threats, and moisture content. In this study, hydrothermal carbonization, an emerging way of waste disposal, was performed on [...] Read more.

Economic development and population growth lead to the increased production of chicken manure, which is a problematic organic waste in terms of its amount, environmental threats, and moisture content. In this study, hydrothermal carbonization, an emerging way of waste disposal, was performed on chicken manure to produce an energy-rich material called hydrochar. The effects of hydrothermal carbonization temperature (180, 240, 300 °C) and process time (30, 90, 180 min) were summarized. Proximate and ultimate analysis, as well as low and high heating values were applied both on raw material and derived hydrochars. Additionally, the performance of the process was examined. The obtained results show that hydrothermal carbonization is a feasible method for chicken manure disposal and valorization. Although the process time did not influence the fuel properties of chicken manure considerably, a higher temperature led to a significantly higher heating value, reaching 23,880.67 ± 34.56 J × g⁻¹ at 300 °C and 180 min with an improvement of ~8329 J × g⁻¹ compared with raw chicken manure (15,551.67 J × g⁻¹). Considering the energy gain value, the hydrochar derived at 240 °C in 30 min had the best result. Moreover, the energy consumption for this process was relatively low (124.34 ± 8.29 kJ × g⁻¹). With its still feasible fuel properties and high heating value of 20,267.00 ± 617.83 kJ × g⁻¹, it was concluded that these parameters of chicken manure hydrochar are the most beneficial and present a potential alternative for conventional fuel. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Progress of Biochar and Biomass Pyrolysis)

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21 pages, 2530 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Use of Wood Pellets in the Production of High Quality Biocarbon Materials

by Bogdan Saletnik, Aneta Saletnik, Grzegorz Zaguła, Marcin Bajcar and Czesław Puchalski

Materials 2022, 15(13), 4404; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15134404 - 22 Jun 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3009

Abstract

Biomass is one of the most important sources of renewable energy. One of the most widely used biomass biofuels is wood pellets. It is an economical, homogeneous and easy-to-use raw material. Biomass is used to generate low-emission energy utilizing the pyrolysis process. Pyrolysis [...] Read more.

Biomass is one of the most important sources of renewable energy. One of the most widely used biomass biofuels is wood pellets. It is an economical, homogeneous and easy-to-use raw material. Biomass is used to generate low-emission energy utilizing the pyrolysis process. Pyrolysis allows for higher energy efficiency with the use of commonly available substrates. This thesis presents the results of research on the possibility of using the pyrolysis process to produce high-energy biocarbons from wood pellets. Data on basic energy parameters and explosivity of biocarbon dust were compiled as criteria for the attractiveness of the solution in terms of energy utility. The research used pellets made of oak, coniferous, and mixed sawdust, which were subjected to a pyrolysis process with varying temperature and time parameters. Carbon, ash, nitrogen, hydrogen, volatile substances, heavy metals, durability and calorific value of the tested materials were carried out. The highest increase in calorific value was determined to be 63% for biocarbons obtained at 500 ℃ and a time of 15 min, compared with the control sample. The highest calorific value among all analyzed materials was obtained from coniferous pellet biocarbon at 31.49 MJ kg⁻¹. Parameters such as maximum explosion pressure, Pmax, maximum pressure increase over time, (dp/dt)max, and explosion rates, Kst max, were also analyzed. It was noted that biomass pyrolysis, which was previously pelletized, improved the energy parameters of the fuel and did not increase the risk class of dust explosion. The lowest and highest recorded values of Kst max for the analyzed materials were 76.53 and 94.75 bar s⁻¹, respectively. The study concluded that the process used for processing solid biofuels did not affect the increase in the danger of dust explosion. The results presented in this article form the basis for further research to obtain detailed knowledge of the safety principles of production, storage, transport and use of these new fuels. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Progress of Biochar and Biomass Pyrolysis)

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25 pages, 4384 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Effect of Biochar on Metal Distribution and Microbiome Dynamic of a Phytostabilized Metalloid-Contaminated Soil Following Freeze–Thaw Cycles

by Maja Radziemska, Mariusz Z. Gusiatin, Agnieszka Cydzik-Kwiatkowska, Aurelia Blazejczyk, Vinod Kumar, Antonin Kintl and Martin Brtnicky

Materials 2022, 15(11), 3801; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15113801 - 26 May 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2009

Abstract

In the present paper the effectiveness of biochar-aided phytostabilization of metal/metalloid-contaminated soil under freezing–thawing conditions and using the metal tolerating test plant Lolium perenne L. is comprehensively studied. The vegetative experiment consisted of plants cultivated for over 52 days with no exposure to [...] Read more.

In the present paper the effectiveness of biochar-aided phytostabilization of metal/metalloid-contaminated soil under freezing–thawing conditions and using the metal tolerating test plant Lolium perenne L. is comprehensively studied. The vegetative experiment consisted of plants cultivated for over 52 days with no exposure to freezing–thawing in a glass greenhouse, followed by 64 days under freezing–thawing in a temperature-controlled apparatus and was carried out in initial soil derived from a post-industrial urban area, characterized by the higher total content of Zn, Pb, Cu, Cr, As and Hg than the limit values included in the classification provided by the Regulation of the Polish Ministry of Environment. According to the substance priority list published by the Toxic Substances and Disease Registry Agency, As, Pb, and Hg are also indicated as being among the top three most hazardous substances. The initial soil was modified by biochar obtained from willow chips. The freeze–thaw effect on the total content of metals/metalloids (metal(-loid)s) in plant materials (roots and above-ground parts) and in phytostabilized soils (non- and biochar-amended) as well as on metal(-loid) concentration distribution/redistribution between four BCR (community bureau of reference) fractions extracted from phytostabilized soils was determined. Based on metal(-loid)s redistribution in phytostabilized soils, their stability was evaluated using the reduced partition index (Ir). Special attention was paid to investigating soil microbial composition. In both cases, before and after freezing–thawing, biochar increased plant biomass, soil pH value, and metal(-loid)s accumulation in roots, and decreased metal(-loid)s accumulation in stems and total content in the soil, respectively, as compared to the corresponding non-amended series (before and after freezing–thawing, respectively). In particular, in the phytostabilized biochar-amended series after freezing–thawing, the recorded total content of Zn, Cu, Pb, and As in roots substantially increased as well as the Hg, Cu, Cr, and Zn in the soil was significantly reduced as compared to the corresponding non-amended series after freezing–thawing. Moreover, exposure to freezing–thawing itself caused redistribution of examined metal(-loid)s from mobile and/or potentially mobile into the most stable fraction, but this transformation was favored by biochar presence, especially for Cu, Pb, Cr, and Hg. While freezing–thawing greatly affected soil microbiome composition, biochar reduced the freeze–thaw adverse effect on bacterial diversity and helped preserve bacterial groups important for efficient soil nutrient conversion. In biochar-amended soil exposed to freezing–thawing, psychrotolerant and trace element-resistant genera such as Rhodococcus sp. or Williamsia sp. were most abundant. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Progress of Biochar and Biomass Pyrolysis)

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