Study of Biochar Properties by Scanning Electron Microscope – Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (SEM-EDX)
Abstract
Biochar is a carbon-rich solid product obtained by pyrolysis of biomass. Here, we investigated multiple biochars produced under slow pyrolysis (235–800 °C), flash carbonization, and hydrothermal carbonization (HTC), using Scanning Electron Microscope—Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (SEM-EDX) in order to determine whether SEM-EDX can be used as a proxy to characterize biochars effectively. Morphological analysis showed that feedstock has an integrated structure compared to biochar; more pores were generated, and the size became smaller when the temperature increased. Maximum carbon content (max. C) and average carbon content (avg. C) obtained from SEM-EDX exhibited a positive relationship with pyrolysis temperature, with max. C correlating most closely with dry combustion total carbon content. The SEM-EDX O/C ratios displayed a consistent response with the highest treatment temperature (HTT). The study suggests that SEM-EDX produces highly consistent C, oxygen (O), and C/O ratios that deserve further investigation as an operational tool for characterization of biochar products.
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In HTB800, PHT facilitated gas escape, volatilization of weak organics, and densification of microporosity, forming interconnected porous structures amid graphitized carbon.
“In HTB800, PHT facilitated gas escape (e.g., CO 2 , CO, CH 4 , H 2 O), volatilization of weak organics, and densification of microporosity, forming interconnected porous structures [Figure 5F] amid graphitized carbon, consistent with [98].”
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References 35 · Cited by 134
- Authors
- Ma, X., Zhou, B., Budai, A., Jeng, A., Hao, X., Wei, D., Zhang, Y., & Rasse, D.
- Affiliations
- Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research (NO)
- Heilongjiang Academy of Sciences (CN)
- Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN)
- Venue
- Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2016-02-06
- Volume
- 47
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 593-601
- ISSN
- 0010-3624 (ISSN-L)
- 1532-2416
- OpenAlex
- W2318150719
- Cited by
- 134
- References
- 35
- Citations by year
- 2026: 20 · 2025: 28 · 2024: 24 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 1
- FWCI
- 1.13
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Science and Technology Program of China (2013BAD07B01)
- Norwegian Research Council (238896/D10)
- Special Fund for Agro-Scientific Research in the Public Interest of China (201303126)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Thermochemical Biomass Conversion Processes
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Soil Science › Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Water Science and Technology › Adsorption and biosorption for pollutant removal
- Keywords
- biochar, pyrolysis temperature, slow pyrolysis, hydrothermal carbonization, carbon content, O/C ratio, biomass pyrolysis
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