Characterization of biochars produced from peanut hulls and pine wood with different pyrolysis conditions

Abstract

Background

Application of modern biomass pyrolysis methods for production of biofuels and biochar is potentially a significant approach to enable global carbon capture and sequestration. To realize this potential, it is essential to develop methods that produce biochar with the characteristics needed for effective soil amendment.

Methods

Biochar materials were produced from peanut hulls and pine wood with different pyrolysis conditions, then characterized by cation exchange (CEC) capacity assays, nitrogen adsorption–desorption isotherm measurements, micro/nanostructural imaging, infrared spectra and elemental analyses.

Results

Under a standard assay condition of pH 8.5, the CEC values of the peanut hull-derived biochar materials, ranging from 6.22 to 66.56 cmol kg⁻¹, are significantly higher than those of the southern yellow pine-derived biochar, which are near zero or negative. The biochar produced from peanut hulls with a steam activation process yielded the highest CEC value of 66.56 cmol kg⁻¹, which is about 5 times higher than the cation exchange capacity (12.51 cmol kg⁻¹) of a reference soil sample. Notably, biochar produced from peanut hulls with batch barrel retort pyrolysis also has a much higher CEC value (60.12 cmol kg⁻¹) than that (12.45 cmol kg⁻¹) from Eprida’s H₂-producing continuous steam injection process. The CEC values were shown to correlate well with the ratios of oxygen atoms to carbon atoms (O:C ratios) in the biochar materials. The higher O:C ratio in a biochar material may indicate the presence of more hydroxyl, carboxylate, and carbonyl groups that contribute to a higher CEC value for the biochar product. In addition, the increase in surface area can also play a role in increasing the CEC value of biochar, as in the case of the steam activation char.

Conclusion

Comparison of characterization results indicated that CEC value is determined not only by the type of the source biomass materials but also by the pyrolysis conditions. Biochar with the desirable characteristics of extremely high surface area (700 m²/g) and cation exchange capacity (> 60 cmol kg) was created through steam activation.

Keywords

Biochar cation exchange capacity / Biochar surface areas / Biochar O:C ratios / Biomass pyrolysis / Biochar soil amendment / Carbon sequestration

References

[1] Baronti S, Vaccaria FP, Miglietta F, Calzolari C, Lugato E, Orlandini S, Zulian Pini CR, Genesio L. Impact of biochar application on plant water relations in Vitis vinifera (L.). Eur J Agron, 2014, 53: 38-44.

[2] Bates A. The Biochar solution: carbon farming and climate change (Sustainable Agriculture), 2010, Vancouver: New Society Publishers, 208.

[3] Beesley L, Moreno-Jiménez E, Gomez-Eyles JL. Effects of biochar and greenwaste compost amendments on mobility, bioavailability and toxicity of inorganic and organic contaminants in a multi-element polluted soil. Environ Pollut, 2010, 158: 2282-2287.

[4] Blackwell P, Krull E, Butler G, Herbert A, Solaiman Z. Effect of banded biochar on dryland wheat production and fertiliser use in south-western Australia: an agronomic and economic perspective. Soil Res, 2010, 48: 531-545.

[5] Budai A, Wang L, Gronli M, Strand LT, Antal MJ Jr, Abiven S, Dieguez-Alonso A, Anca-Couce A, Rasse DP. Surface properties and chemical composition of corncob and Miscanthus biochars: effects of production temperature and method. J Agric Food Chem, 2014, 62(17): 3791-3799.

[6] Dai Z, Meng J, Muhammad N, Liu X, Wang H, He Y, Brookes PC, Xu J. The potential feasibility for soil improvement, based on the properties of biochars pyrolyzed from different feedstocks. J Soils Sediments, 2013, 13: 989-1000.

[7] Das KC, Singh K, Adolphson R, Hawkins B, Oglesby R, Lakly D, Day D. Steam pyrolysis and catalytic steam reforming for hydrogen and biochar production. Appl Eng Agric, 2009, 26(1): 137-146.

[8] Day DM, Lee JW. The production and use of a soil amendment made by the combined production of hydrogen, sequestered carbon and utilizing off gases containing carbon dioxide. PCT Int Appl, 2004, 58: WO2004037747 A2.

[9] Day DM, Evans RJ, Lee JW, Reicosky D. Economical CO2, SOx, and NOx capture from fossil-fuel utilization with combined renewable hydrogen production and large-scale carbon sequestration. Energy, 2005, 30: 2558-2579.

[10] Downie AE, van Zwieten L, Smernik RJ, Morris S, Munroe PR. Terra Preta Australis: reassessing the carbon storage capacity of temperate soils. Agric Ecosyst Environ, 2011, 140: 137-147.

[11] Energy with Agricultural Carbon Utilization Symposium, held on June 10–11 2004, Athens

[12] Fratini E, Bonini M, Oasmaa A, Solantausta Y, Teixeira J, Balioni P. SANS analysis of the microstructural evolution during the aging of pyrolysis oils from biomass. Langmuir, 2006, 22: 306-312.

[13] Gundale MJ, Thomas H, DeLuca TH. Charcoal effects on soil solution chemistry and growth of Koeleria macrantha in the ponderosa pine/douglas fir ecosystem. Biol Fertil Soils, 2007, 43: 303-311.

[14] Huff MD, Kumar S, Lee JW. Comparative analysis of pinewood, peanut shell, and bamboo biomass derived biochars produced via hydrothermal conversion and pyrolysis. J Environ Manage, 2014, 146: 303-308.

[15] Jindo K, Mizumoto H, Sawada Y, Sanchez-Monedero MA, Sonoki T. Physical and chemical characterization of biochars derived from different agricultural residues. Biogeosciences, 2014, 11: 6613-6621.

[16] Koper T, Weisberg P, Lennie A, Driver K, Simons H, Rodriguez M, Reed D, Jirka S Gaunt J (2013) Methodology for biochar projects, American Carbon Registry [Online]. americancarbonregistry.org/C-accounting/biochar-public-comment

[17] Lee JW, Day DM. Lee JW. Smokeless biomass pyrolysis for producing biofuels and biochar as a possible arsenal to control climate change. Advanced biofuels and bioproducts, chap 3, 2013, New York: Springer, 23-34.

[18] Lee JW, Kidder K, Evans BR, Paik S, Buchanan AC, Garten CT, Brown RC. Characterization of biochars produced from cornstovers for soil amendment and carbon sequestration. Environ Sci Technol, 2010, 44: 7970-7974.

[19] Lee JW, Hawkins B, Day DM, Reicosky DC. Sustainability: the capacity of smokeless biomass pyrolysis for energy production, global carbon capture and sequestration. Energy Environ Sci, 2010, 3(11): 1609-1812.

[20] Lee JW, Hawkins B, Li X, Day DM. Lee JW. Biochar fertilizer for soil amendment and carbon sequestration. Advanced biofuels and bioproducts, chap 6, 2013, New York: Springer, 57-68.

[21] Lehmann J. Commentary: a handful of carbon. Nature, 2007, 447: 143-144.

[22] Lehmann J, Gaunt J, Rondon M. Bio-char sequestration in terrestrial ecosystems—a review. Mitig Adapt Strateg Glob Chang, 2006, 11: 403-427.

[23] Lehmannn J, Joseph S. Biochar for environmental management: science and technology, 2009, London: Routledge, 448.

[24] Liang B, Lehmann J, Solomon D, Kinyangi J, Grossman J, O’neill B, Skjemstad JO, Thies J, Luizao FJ, Petersen J, Neves EG. Black carbon increases cation exchange capacity in soils. Soil Soc Am J, 2006, 70: 1719-1730.

[25] Manahan SE. Environmental chemistry, 1999, 6, Boca Raton: CRC Press, 80-480.

[26] Marris E. Sequestration news feature: black is the new green. Nature, 2006, 442: 624-626.

[27] Novak JM, Busscher WJ. Lee JW. Selection and use of designer biochars to improve characteristics of southeastern USA coastal plain degraded soils. Advanced biofuels and bioproducts, chap 4, 2013, New York: Springer, 69-96.

[28] Novak JM, Cantrell KB, Watts DW, Busscher WJ, Johnson MG. Designing relevant biochars as soil amendments using lignocellulosic-based and manure-based feedstocks. J Soils Sediments, 2014, 14: 330-343.

[29] Singh B, Lynne MM, Kokana RS, van Zwieten L, Butler G, Joseph S, Weatherley A, Kaudal BB, Regan A, Cattle J, Dijkstra F, Boersma M, Kimber S, Keith A, Esfandbod M. Opportunities and constraints for biochar technology in Australian agriculture: looking beyond carbon sequestration. Soil Res, 2014, 52: 739-750.

[30] Singh R, Babua JN, Rabindra K, Srivastava P, Pardeep S, Akhilesh SR. Multifaceted application of crop residue biochar as a tool for sustainable agriculture: an ecological perspective. Ecol Eng, 2015, 77: 324-347.

[31] Skjemstad JO, Gillman GP, Massis A, Spouncer LR. The measurement of cation exchange capacity of organic matter fractions from soils using a modified compulsive exchange method. Commun Soil Sci Plant Anal, 2008, 39(5): 926-937.

[32] Socrates G. Infrared characteristic group frequencies, 1980, 2, Chichester, WS: Wiley.

[33] Solomon D, Lehmann J, Thies J, Schafer T, Liang B, Kinyangi J, Neves E, Petersen J, Luizao F, Skjemstad J. Molecular signature and sources of biochemical recalcitrance of organic C in Amazonian dark earths. Geochim Cosmochim Acta, 2007, 71: 2285-2298.

[34] Spokas KA, Baker JM, Reicosky DC. Ethylene: potential key for biochar amendment impacts. Plant Soil, 2010, 333: 443-452.

[35] Srinivasan P, Sarmah AK, Smernik R, Das O, Farid M, Gao W. A feasibility study of agricultural and sewage biomass as biochar, bioenergy and biocomposite feedstock: production, characterization and potential applications. Sci Total Environ, 2015, 512: 495-505.

[36] Topoliantz Stéphanie, Ponge Jean-François, Ballof Sylvain. Manioc peel and charcoal: a potential organic amendment for sustainable soil fertility in the tropics. Biol Fertil Soils, 2005, 41: 15-21.

[37] Wang Y, Hu Y, Zhao X, Wang S, Xing G. Comparisons of biochar properties from wood material and crop residues at different temperatures and residence times. Energy Fuels, 2013, 27: 5890-5899.

[38] Windeatt JH, Ross AB, Williams PT, Forster PM, Nahil MA, Singh S. Characteristics of biochars from crop residues: potential for carbon sequestration and soil amendment. J Environ Manage, 2014, 146: 189-197.

[39] Zhang A, Cui L, Pan G, Li L, Hussain Q, Zhang X, Zheng J, Crowley D. Effect of biochar amendment on yield and methane and nitrous oxide emissions from a rice paddy from Tai Lake plain, China. Agric Ecosyst Environ, 2010, 139: 469-475.

[40] Zhang QZ, Du ZL, Lou Y, He X. A one-year short-term biochar application improved carbon accumulation in large macroaggregate fractions. Catena, 2015, 127: 26-31.

[41] Zhao X, Wang J, Wang S, Xing G. Successive straw biochar application as a strategy to sequester carbon and improve fertility: a pot experiment with two rice/wheat rotations in paddy soil. Plant Soil, 2014, 378: 279-294.

[42] Zhao R, Neil C, Wu J. Carbon mineralization following additions of fresh and aged biochar to an infertile soil. Catena, 2015, 125: 183-189.