Cited by 92Thermochemical Biomass Conversion ProcessesAdsorption and biosorption for pollutant removalSoil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics

Impact of Biomass Source and Pyrolysis Parameters on Physicochemical Properties of Biochar Manufactured for Innovative Applications

Open access
Uroić Štefanko, Ana, Leszczynska, Danuta·2020·Frontiers in Energy Research

Abstract

Biochar production for energy and high-tech applications requires a specific set of physicochemical parameters based on interfaces between initial pyrolytic conditions and properties of starting material, namely biomass. This study compares 20 types of biochar produced from five diverse waste biomasses at two pyrolytic temperatures (400°C, 700°C), processing times (2 h, 5 h) and heating rates (26°C/min, 5°C/min). The manufactured biochar was tested for the yield, fixed C, ash load, size of developed surface area, porosity, nutrients, and minerals. Leachate tests were performed to determine the stability of biochar, their pH, conductivity, and presence of dissolved nutrients. The proximate analysis demonstrated an increase in fixed C linked to temperature increase from 400°C to 700°C. Biochar produced from organic-rich biomass such as corn stover, showed higher content of nutrients, especially potassium and phosphorus on their surfaces and in their leachates, which influenced the development of its surfaces at 700°C. The increase of temperature with prolonged residence time has generated more stable and mostly aromatic structures within biochar when compared to other studied conditions. These findings were confirmed by the FTIR spectra that indicated amplified condensation of aromatic and aliphatic carbons (C=C, C=O, C-H) and a decrease of phenolic bonded water (-OH bonded). Consequently, a specific application of biochar should ultimately dictate the choice of optimal pyrolytic conditions and original/added components of initial biomass.

The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.

Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.

A few free checks a day · papers already verified open instantly · results are public

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.3389/fenrg.2020.00138

Cites

8 of 8 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Claims the paper makes

The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.

Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.

A few free checks a day · papers already verified open instantly · results are public

Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

  • Fouling is partly mitigated by CRD wood's low S, N, and P content, which reduces the formation of corrosive acidic species above 700°C.

    “Fouling, driven by K and Na volatilization and subsequent alkali chloride/sulphide/phosphide condensation on reactor surfaces, is partly mitigated by CRD wood's low S, N, and P content, which reduces the formation of corrosive acidic species above 700 • C [84][85][86][87].”

    From Pilot-Scale Slow Pyrolysis, Post-Heat Treatment, and Self-Heating Performance of Biochar Fuels Derived from Construction, Renovation, and Demolition (CRD) Wood Waste (2026) · cites this paper as [86]

    The Biomass Selection and Pretreatment section lists the feedstocks studied but does not include CRD wood. The Biochar pH and EC and Biochar Yield and Proximate Analysis sections discuss acidity and potassium volatilization, but do not address fouling mitigation, low S/N/P content, or reduced corrosive acidic species above 700°C. Searches for those terms and for alkali deposits found no supporting passage; page numbers were unavailable. (LLM, conf=0.76)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

The self-check needs the paper’s full text.

Cites

Flagged first, then by citations

Research works printed but not linked: 65

  1. Ahmad, M., Rajapaksha, A. U., Lim, J. E., Zhang, M., Bolan, N., Mohan, D., et al. (2014). Biochar as a sorbent for contaminant management in soil and water: a review. Chemosphere 99, 19-33. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2013.10.071 · DOI · Paper page
  2. Akbar, S., Schnell, U., and Scheffknecht, G. (2010). Modelling potassium release and the effect of potassium chloride on deposition mechanisms for coal and biomass-fired boilers. Combust Theor Model. 14, 315-329. doi: 10.1080/13647830.2010.483019 · DOI
  3. Amini, E., Safdari, M.-S., DeYoung, J. T., Weise, D. R., and Fletcher, T. H. (2019). Characterization of pyrolysis products from slow pyrolysis of live and dead vegetation native to the southern United States. Fuel 235, 1475-1491. doi: 10.1016/j.fuel.2018.08.112 · DOI
  4. Angin, D. (2013). Effect of pyrolysis temperature and heating rate on biochar obtained from pyrolysis of safflower seed press cake. Bioresour. Technol. 128, 593-597. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2012.10.150 · DOI · Paper page
  5. Brunauer, S., Emmett, P. H., and Teller, E. (1938). Adsorption of gases in multimolecular layers. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 60, 309-319. doi: 10.1021/ja01269a023 · DOI · Paper page
  6. Cao, X., Ma, L., Gao, B., and Harris, W. (2009). Dairy-manure derived biochar effectively sorbs lead and atrazine. Environ. Sci. Technol. 43, 3285-3291. doi: 10.1021/es803092k · DOI · Paper page
  7. Cheah, S., Malone, S. C., and Feik, C. J. (2014). Speciation of sulfur in biochar produced from pyrolysis and gasification of oak and corn stover. Environ. Sci. Technol. 48, 8474-8480. doi: 10.1021/es500073r · DOI
  8. Chen, B., Chen, Z., and Lv, S. (2011). A novel magnetic biochar efficiently sorbs organic pollutants and phosphate. Bioresour. Technol. 102, 716-723. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2010.08.067 · DOI · Paper page
  9. Chen, B., Zhou, D., and Zhu, L. (2008). Transitional adsorption and partition of nonpolar and polar aromatic contaminants by biochars of pine needles with different pyrolytic temperatures. Environ. Sci. Technol. 42, 5137-5143. doi: 10.1021/es8002684 · DOI · Paper page
  10. Chen, C., Luo, Z., Yu, C., Wang, T., and Zhang, H. (2017). Transformation behavior of potassium during pyrolysis of biomass. RSC Advances. 7, 31319- 31326. doi: 10.1039/c7ra05162j · DOI
  11. Durak, H. (2016). Pyrolysis ofXanthium strumariumin a fixed bed reactor: effects of boron catalysts and pyrolysis parameters on product yields and character. Energy Sources Part A 38, 1400-1409. doi: 10.1080/15567036.2014.947446 · DOI
  12. Durak, H., Genel, S., and Tunç, M. (2019). Pyrolysis of black cumin seed: significance of catalyst and temperature product yields and chromatographic characterization. J. Liq. Chromatogr. Relat. Technol. 42, 331-350. doi: 10.1080/10826076.2019.1593194 · DOI
  13. Enders, A., Hanley, K., Whitman, T., Joseph, S., and Lehmann, J. (2012). Characterization of biochars to evaluate recalcitrance and agronomic performance. Bioresour. Technol. 114, 644-653. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2012.03.022 · DOI · Paper page
  14. Gabhi, R. S., Kirk, D. W., and Jia, C. Q. (2017). Preliminary investigation of electrical conductivity of monolithic biochar. Carbon 116, 435-442. doi: 10.1016/j.carbon.2017. 01.069 · DOI
  15. Gai, X., Wang, H., Liu, J., Zhai, L., Liu, S., Ren, T., et al. (2014). Effects of Feedstock and Pyrolysis Temperature on Biochar Adsorption of Ammonium and Nitrate. PLoS ONE 9:e113888. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0113888 · DOI
  16. Hagemann, N., Spokas, K., Schmidt, H.-P., Kägi, R., Böhler, M., and Bucheli, T. (2018). Activated carbon, biochar, and charcoal: linkages and synergies across pyrogenic carbon's ABCs. Water 10:182. doi: 10.3390/w10020182 · DOI
  17. Harvey, O. R., Herbert, B. E., Kuo, L.-J., and Louchouarn, P. (2012). Generalized two-dimensional perturbation correlation infrared spectroscopy reveals mechanisms for the development of surface charge and recalcitrance in plant-derived biochars. Environ. Sci. Technol. 46, 10641-10650. doi: 10.1021/es302971d · DOI
  18. Hyväluoma, J., Kulju, S., Hannula, M., Wikberg, H., Källi, A., and Rasa, K. (2018). Quantitative characterization of the pore structure of several biochars with 3D imaging. Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res. 25, 25648-25658. doi: 10.1007/s11356-017-8823-x · DOI
  19. Ippolito, J. A., Ducey, T. F., Cantrell, K. B., Novak, J. M., and Lentz, R. D. (2016). Designer, acidic biochar influences calcareous soil characteristics. Chemosphere 142, 184-191. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2015.05.092 · DOI
  20. Kastner, J. R., Miller, J., Geller, D. P., Locklin, J., Keith, L. H., and Johnson, T. (2012). Catalytic esterification of fatty acids using solid acid catalysts generated from biochar and activated carbon. Catalysis Today 190, 122-132. doi: 10.1016/j.cattod.2012.02.006 · DOI
  21. Kawamoto, H. (2017). Lignin pyrolysis reactions. J. Wood Sci. 63, 117-132. doi: 10.1007/s10086-016-1606-z · DOI · Paper page
  22. Kawamoto, H., Murayama, M., and Saka, S. (2003). Pyrolysis behavior of levoglucosan as an intermediate in cellulose pyrolysis: polymerization into polysaccharide as a key reaction to carbonized product formation. J. Wood Sci. 49, 469-473. doi: 10.1007/s10086-002-0487-5 · DOI · Paper page
  23. Knoepp, J. D., Neary, D. G.; Ryan, K. C., DeBano, L. F. (eds.). (2005). "Wildland fire in ecosystems: effects of fire on soils and water, " in Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR- 42-vol.
  24. Lewis, A. D., and Fletcher, T. H. (2013). Prediction of sawdust pyrolysis yields from a flat-flame burner using the CPD model. Energy Fuels 27, 942-953. doi: 10.1021/ef3018783 · DOI
  25. Liu, N., Zhang, Y., Xu, C., Liu, P., Lv, J., Liu, Y. Y., et al. (2020). Removal mechanisms of aqueous Cr(VI) using apple wood biochar: a spectroscopic study. J. Hazard. Mater. 384:121371. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2019.121371 · DOI
  26. Lu, H., Zhang, W., Yang, Y., Huang, X., Wang, S., and Qiu, R. (2012). Relative distribution of Pb2+ sorption mechanisms by sludge-derived biochar. Water Res. 46, 854-862. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2011.11.058 · DOI · Paper page
  27. Lv, G., and Wu, S. (2012). Analytical pyrolysis studies of corn stalk and its three main components by TG-MS and Py-GC/MS. J. Anal. Appl. Pyrol. 97, 11-18. doi: 10.1016/j.jaap.2012.04.010 · DOI
  28. Mayes, H. B., and Broadbelt, L. J. (2012). Unraveling the reactions that unravel cellulose. J. Phys. Chem. A 116, 7098-7106. doi: 10.1021/jp300405x · DOI
  29. Mohammed, N. A. S., Abu-Zurayk, R. A., Hamadneh, I., and Al-Dujaili, A. H. (2018). Phenol adsorption on biochar prepared from the pine fruit shells: equilibrium, kinetics, and thermodynamics studies. J. Environ. Manage 226, 377-385. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2018.08.033 · DOI
  30. Mohanty, S. K., Valenca, R., Berger, A. W., Yu, I. K. M., Xiong, X., Saunders, T. M., et al. (2018). Plenty of room for carbon on the ground: potential applications of biochar for stormwater treatment. Sci. Total Environ. 625, 1644-1658. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.01.037 · DOI · Paper page
  31. Mukherjee, A., Zimmerman, A. R., and Harris, W. (2011). Surface chemistry variations among a series of laboratory-produced biochars. Geoderma 163, 247-255. doi: 10.1016/j.geoderma.2011.04.021 · DOI · Paper page
  32. Mullen, C. A., Boateng, A. A., Goldberg, N. M., Lima, I. M., Laird, D. A., and Hicks, K. B. (2010). Bio-oil and bio-char production from corn cobs and stover by fast pyrolysis. Biomass Bioenerg. 34, 67-74. doi: 10.1016/j.biombioe.2009.09.012 · DOI
  33. Muvhiiwa, R., Kuvarega, A., Maphla, E., and Muleja, A. (2019). Study of biochar from pyrolysis and gasification of wood pellets in a nitrogen plasma reactor for the design of biomass processes. J. Environ. Chem. Eng. 7:103391. doi: 10.1016/j.jece.2019.103391 · DOI
  34. Narzari, R., Bordoloi, N., Sarma, B., Gogoi, L., Gogoi, N., Borkotoki, B., et al. (2017). Fabrication of biochars obtained from the valorization of biowaste and evaluation of its physicochemical properties. Bioresour. Technol. 242, 324-328. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2017.04.050 · DOI
  35. Ngan, A., Jia, C. Q., and Tong, S.-T. (2019). Production, characterization and alternative applications of biochar. Biofuels Biorefineries. 9, 117-151. doi: 10.1007/978-981-13-3768-0_5 · DOI
  36. Noor, N. M., Shariff, A., and Abdullah, N. (2012). Slow Pyrolysis of Cassava Wastes for Biochar Production and Characterization. Iranian J. Energy Environ. 3, 60-65. doi: 10.5829/idosi.ijee.2012.03.05.10 · DOI
  37. Novak, J. M., Busscher, W. J., Laird, D. L., Ahmedna, M., Watts, D. W., and Niandou, M. A. S. (2009). Impact of biochar amendment on fertility of a southeastern coastal plain soil. Soil Sci. 174, 105-112. doi: 10.1097/SS.0b013e3181981d9a · DOI · Paper page
  38. Nowakowski, D., Jones, J., Brydson, R., and Ross, A. (2007). Potassium catalysis in the pyrolysis behaviour of short rotation willow coppice. Fuel. 86, 2389-2402. doi: 10.1016/j.fuel.2007.01.026 · DOI
  39. Nowakowski, D. J., and Jones, J. M. (2008). Uncatalysed and potassium-catalysed pyrolysis of the cell-wall constituents of biomass and their model compounds. J. Anal. Appl. Pyrolysis. 83, 12-25. doi: 10.1016/j.jaap.2008.05.007 · DOI
  40. Park, J.-H., Wang, J. J., Kim, S.-H., Kang, S.-W., Yoon Jeong, C., Jeon, J.-R., et al. (2019). Cadmium adsorption characteristics of biochars derived using various pine tree residues and pyrolysis temperatures. J. Colloid Interface Sci.. 553, 298-307. doi: 10.1016/j.jcis.2019.06.032 · DOI
  41. Qi, F., Dong, Z., Lamb, D., Naidu, R., Bolan, N. S., Ok, Y. S., et al. (2017). Effects of acidic and neutral biochars on properties and cadmium retention of soils. Chemosphere 180, 564-573. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017. 04.014 · DOI
  42. Qin, J., Qian, S., Chen, Q., Chen, L., Yan, L., and Shen, G. (2019). Cow manure- derived biochar: its catalytic properties and influential factors. J. Hazard. Mater. 371, 381-388. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2019.03.024 · DOI
  43. Rajapaksha, A. U., Chen, S. S., Tsang, D. C. W., Zhang, M., Vithanage, M., Mandal, S., et al. (2016). Engineered/designer biochar for contaminant removal/immobilization from soil and water: potential and implication of biochar modification. Chemosphere 148, 276-291. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2016.01.043 · DOI · Paper page
  44. Rehrah, D., Reddy, M. R., Novak, J. M., Bansode, R. R., Schimmel, K. A., Yu, J., et al. (2014). Production and characterization of biochars from agricultural by-products for use in soil quality enhancement. J. Anal. Appl. Pyrolysis 108, 301-309. doi: 10.1016/j.jaap.2014.03.008 · DOI
  45. Sadaka, S., Sharara, M., Ashworth, A., Keyser, P., Allen, F., and Wright, A. (2014). Characterization of biochar from switchgrass carbonization. Energies 7, 548-567. doi: 10.3390/en7020548 · DOI
  46. Saddawi, A., Jones, J. M., and Williams, A. (2012). Influence of alkali metals on the kinetics of the thermal decomposition of biomass. Fuel Process. Technol. 104, 189-197. doi: 10.1016/j.fuproc.2012.05.014 · DOI
  47. Sharypov, V. I., Marin, N., Beregovtsova, N. G., Baryshnikov, S. V., Kuznetsov, B. N., Cebolla, V. L., et al. (2002). Co-pyrolysis of wood biomass and synthetic polymer mixtures. Part I: influence of experimental conditions on the evolution of solids, liquids, and gases. J. Analyt. Appl. Pyroly. 64, 15-28. doi: 10.1016/S0165-2370(01)00167-X · DOI
  48. Shen, Y., Linville, J. L., Urgun-Demirtas, M., Schoene, R. P., and Snyder, S. W. (2015). Producing pipeline-quality biomethane via anaerobic digestion of sludge amended with corn stover biochar with in-situ CO 2 removal. Appl. Energy 158, 300-309. doi: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2015. 08.016 · DOI
  49. Singh, B., Camps-Arbestain, M., and Lehmann, J. (2017). Biochar: A Guide to Analytical Methods. Boca Raton: CRC Press.
  50. Suliman, W., Harsh, J. B., Fortuna, A.-M., Garcia-Pérez, M., and Abu- Lail, N. I. (2017). Quantitative effects of biochar oxidation and pyrolysis temperature on the transport of pathogenic and nonpathogenic Escherichia coli in biochar-amended sand columns. Environ. Sci. Technol. 51, 5071-5081. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.6b04535 · DOI
  51. Uchimiya, M., Wartelle, L. H., Klasson, K. T., Fortier, C. A., and Lima, I. M. (2011). Influence of pyrolysis temperature on biochar property and function as a heavy metal sorbent in soil. J. Agric. Food Chem. 59, 2501-2510. doi: 10.1021/jf104206c · DOI · Paper page
  52. Van Lith, S. C., Jensen, P. A., Frandsen, F. J., and Glarborg, P. (2008). Release to the Gas Phase of Inorganic Elements during Wood Combustion. Part 2: Influence of Fuel Composition. Energ. Fuel. 22, 1598-1609. doi: 10.1021/ef06 0613i · DOI
  53. Wang, D., Zhang, W., Hao, X., and Zhou, D. (2013). Transport of biochar particles in saturated granular media: effects of pyrolysis temperature and particle size. Environ. Sci. Technol. 47, 821-828. doi: 10.1021/es303794d · DOI
  54. Wang, J., Yao, Y., Cao, J., and Jiang, M. (2010). Enhanced catalysis of K 2 CO 3 for steam gasification of coal char by using Ca(OH) 2 in char preparation. Fuel. 89, 310-317. doi: 10.1016/j.fuel.2009.09.001 · DOI
  55. Wang, M., Zhu, Y., Cheng, L., Andserson, B., Zhao, X., Wang, D., et al. (2018). Review on the utilization of biochar for metal-contaminated soil and sediment remediation. J. Environ. Sci. 63, 156-173. doi: 10.1016/j.jes.2017. 08.004 · DOI
  56. Wang, S., Guo, W., Gao, F., and Yang, R. (2017). Characterization and Pb(II) removal potential of corn straw-and municipal sludge-derived biochars. Royal Soc. Open Sci. 4:170402. doi: 10.1098/rsos.170402 · DOI
  57. Wang, Z., Liu, K., Xie, L., Zhu, H., Ji, S., Shu, X., et al. (2019). Effects of residence time on characteristics of biochars prepared via co-pyrolysis of sewage sludge and cotton stalks. J. Anal. Appl. Pyrolysis. 142, 104659. doi: 10.1016/j.jaap.2019.104659 · DOI
  58. Xiao, X., Chen, B., Chen, Z., Zhu, L., and Schnoor, J. L. (2018). Insight into multiple and multilevel structures of biochars and their potential environmental applications: a critical review. Environ. Sci. Technol. 52, 5027-5047. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.7b06487 · DOI
  59. Xue, Y., Gao, B., Yao, Y., Inyang, M., Zhang, M., Zimmerman, A. R., et al. (2012). Hydrogen peroxide modification enhances the ability of biochar (hydrochar) produced from hydrothermal carbonization of peanut hull to remove aqueous heavy metals: batch and column tests. Chem. Eng. J. 200-202, 673-680. doi: 10.1016/j.cej.2012.06.116 · DOI · Paper page
  60. Yan, J., Han, L., Gao, W., Xue, S., and Chen, M. (2015). Biochar supported nanoscale zerovalent iron composite used as persulfate activator for removing trichloroethylene. Bioresour. Technol. 175, 269-274. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2014.10.103 · DOI
  61. Yang, G.-X., and Jiang, H. (2014). Amino modification of biochar for enhanced adsorption of copper ions from synthetic wastewater. Water Res. 48, 396-405. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2013.09.050 · DOI
  62. Yorgun, S., and Simşek, Y. E. (2008). Catalytic pyrolysis of Miscanthus×giganteus over activated alumina. Bioresour. Technol. 99, 8095-8100. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2008.03.036 · DOI
  63. Yuan, J.-H., Xu, R.-K., and Zhang, H. (2011). The forms of alkalis in the biochar produced from crop residues at different temperatures. Bioresour. Technol. 102, 3488-3497. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2010.11.018 · DOI · Paper page
  64. Zhang, J., Liu, J., and Liu, R. (2015). Effects of pyrolysis temperature and heating time on biochar obtained from the pyrolysis of straw and lignosulfonate. Bioresour. Technol. 176, 288-291. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2014. 11.011 · DOI · Paper page
  65. Zhao, S. X., Ta, N., and Wang, X. D. (2017). Effect of temperature on the structural and physicochemical properties of biochar with apple tree branches as feedstock material. Energies 10:1293. doi: 10.3390/en10 091293 · DOI · Paper page

Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Uroić Štefanko, A., & Leszczynska, D.
Venue
Frontiers in Energy Research
Published
2020-07-16
Volume
8
ISSN
2296-598X (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W3042642752
Cited by
92
References
8
Citations by year
2026: 25 · 2025: 22 · 2024: 19 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 7
FWCI
2.04
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Frontiers in Energy Research (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
  • National Science Foundation (1632899, 1547754)
  • U.S. Department of Transportation (69A3551747130, Grant Award Number 69A3551747130)
  • Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology (HRD 1547754)
  • Office of Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (1632899, OIA-1632899)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Thermochemical Biomass Conversion Processes
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Water Science and Technology › Adsorption and biosorption for pollutant removal
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Soil Science › Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics
Keywords
biochar, pyrolysis parameters, biomass sources, biomass waste, pyrolysis temperature, heating rate, residence time, biochar yield, fixed carbon, ash content, surface area, porosity, nutrient content, mineral content, corn stover, aromatic structure, biochar amendment

About these checks

Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.

Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.

What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›

Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review