TY - JOUR
T1 - Physicochemical Characteristics of Biochars Derived From Corn, Hardwood, Miscanthus, and Horse Manure Biomasses
AU - Nagel, Kurt
AU - Hoilett, Nigel O.
AU - Mottaleb, M. Abdul
AU - Meziani, Mohammed J.
AU - Wistrom, Jonathan
AU - Bellamy, Michael
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2019, © 2019 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
PY - 2019/4/28
Y1 - 2019/4/28
N2 - Biochar, a carbon-rich by-product of biomass pyrolysis, is widely recognized as a potential ingredient for soil amendment, fertility, and carbon sequestration owing to its favorable physicochemical properties. The objective of this study was to investigate the chemical and physical properties of biochars produced through pyrolysis at 450°C from agricultural residues available in Northwest Missouri, namely hardwood (HW), corn stover (CR), miscanthus (MS), and horse manure (HM). These properties were assessed through the analysis of pyrolysis yield, pH, volatile matter, fixed carbon, ash and carbon (C), hydrogen (H), sulfur (S), nitrogen (N) contents, trace metal concentrations, surface morphology, surface functional groups, bulk density, and water holding capacity. The biochars derived from HW, MS and CR materials showed high volatile-matter (33–42%), high fixed carbon contents (42–47%), very low ash contents (6–15%), and low bulk density (0.14–0.28 g cm−3) as compared to that of HM. A wide range of trace elements was observed in biochar samples with significant differences in concentrations. In addition, CR, HW and MS biochars displayed a disordered graphitic-like structure with well-developed pores and surface areas of 23, 70 and 90 m2/g respectively, and high water-holding capacity up to 750%, indicating their potential application as a soil amendment.
AB - Biochar, a carbon-rich by-product of biomass pyrolysis, is widely recognized as a potential ingredient for soil amendment, fertility, and carbon sequestration owing to its favorable physicochemical properties. The objective of this study was to investigate the chemical and physical properties of biochars produced through pyrolysis at 450°C from agricultural residues available in Northwest Missouri, namely hardwood (HW), corn stover (CR), miscanthus (MS), and horse manure (HM). These properties were assessed through the analysis of pyrolysis yield, pH, volatile matter, fixed carbon, ash and carbon (C), hydrogen (H), sulfur (S), nitrogen (N) contents, trace metal concentrations, surface morphology, surface functional groups, bulk density, and water holding capacity. The biochars derived from HW, MS and CR materials showed high volatile-matter (33–42%), high fixed carbon contents (42–47%), very low ash contents (6–15%), and low bulk density (0.14–0.28 g cm−3) as compared to that of HM. A wide range of trace elements was observed in biochar samples with significant differences in concentrations. In addition, CR, HW and MS biochars displayed a disordered graphitic-like structure with well-developed pores and surface areas of 23, 70 and 90 m2/g respectively, and high water-holding capacity up to 750%, indicating their potential application as a soil amendment.
KW - Biochar
KW - Biomass
KW - Physicochemical properties
KW - Pyrolysis
KW - Surface area
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85063693101&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85063693101&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/00103624.2019.1594881
DO - 10.1080/00103624.2019.1594881
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85063693101
SN - 0010-3624
VL - 50
SP - 987
EP - 1002
JO - Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis
JF - Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis
IS - 8
ER -