Quality Variations of Biochar Generated from Wheat Straw During Slow Pyrolysis Process at Different Temperatures

Abstract

Biochar has received great attention by many researchers recently due to its potential to improve soil fertility and immobilize contaminants and is proper as a way of carbon sequestration and therefore a possible carbon sink. In this work, a series of biochar were produced from wheat straw by slow pyrolysis at different temperatures (300, 400, 500, 600 and 700 ◦C) and their physicochemical properties were analyzed. Biochar yield, ash content, the amount of nutrients and other physicochemical properties in the all treatment of the raw material for the effect of temperature on the wheat straw biochar and to determine the best temperature pyrolysis temperature for converting wheat straw to biochar with agricultural usage. As temperature increased incrementally from 300 to 700◦C, biochar yield, total N content and organic carbon (OC) decreased while pH, EC, ash content and OC stability increased. The generated biochars production caused yields 28.34-58.32 % of feed mass, stable OC % 65.32-92.14 and pH 7.4-10.9. The maximal transformation of feed OC into biochar recalcitrant OC occurred at 500 ◦C. There were reductions in the amount of functional groups as pyrolysis temperature increased for wheat straw biochar. However, total acidity of the functional groups increased with pyrolysis temperature increased for wheat straw biochar. To produce agricultural-use wheat straw biochar, 300 ◦C should be is suggested in pyrolysis process and for carbon sequestration biochar 500 ◦C is recommended.

Keywords

• Biochar
• Carbon Stability
• Nutrient Content
• Pyrolysis Temperature
• Wheat Straw
• Yeild