title: Slow pyrolysis of rice straw: analysis of products properties, carbon and energy yields.
abstract: Among many uses of rice straw, application of its biochar from pyrolysis to the soil is receiving greater interest for increased crop productivity and sequestration of CO2. This study investigated slow pyrolysis of rice straw at 300-700°C to characterize the yields and detailed composition of the biochar, bio-oil and non-condensable gases. Biochar was analyzed for pH, microscopic surface area and pore volume distribution. Although the mass yield for the organic fraction was only about 25% above 500°C, biochar was the primary product of pyrolysis containing 40% of energy and 45% of carbon from the straw. The utilization of by-products (bio-oil and gases) as energy resources was essential, since the sum of energy yield was about 60%. The gases could be burned to produce the heat for an auto-thermal pyrolysis process, but the heat balance was significantly influenced by the moisture content of the raw material.
authors.affiliation: School of Mechanical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 440-746, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jinje
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: School of Mechanical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 440-746, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yongwoon
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: School of Mechanical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 440-746, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: cryu@me.skku.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Changkook
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ryu
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental Engineering, University of Seoul, Seoul 130-743, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Young-Kwon
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D056804:Biofuels; D002151:Calorimetry; D002606:Charcoal / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008956:Models, Chemical; D012275:Oryza / Q000737:chemistry*; D035261:Plant Components, Aerial / Q000737:chemistry*; D016062:Porosity; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels; C540010:biochar; D002606:Charcoal
keywords: Biochar; Carbon yield; Energy yield; Rice straw; Slow pyrolysis