title: A feasibility study of agricultural and sewage biomass as biochar, bioenergy and biocomposite feedstock: production, characterization and potential applications.
abstract: In this study, we pyrolysed six waste derived biomass: pine sawdust (PSD), paunch grass (PG), broiler litter (BL), sewage sludge (SS), dewatered pond sludge (DWP), and dissolved air-floatation sludge (DAF) into biochar. Biochars were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry, (13)C-solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy to evaluate their feasibility for potential agronomic and environmental applications. Syngas produced during the pyrolysis process was also analyzed to determine the energy values. Results show that PSD biochar has the utmost potential for carbon sequestration and contaminant remediation due to its high surface area, aromaticity and carbon content. Additionally given its low ash content, PSD biochar could also potentially be used as filler in wood plastic biocomposites. Low levels of heavy metals (Cr, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, Hg, and Pb) in all biochars suggest that biochars are also applicable for land application according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency regulation 40 CFR part 503. The composition of syngas evolved during the pyrolysis of feedstocks showed little difference in the calorific values, ranging from 12-16 MJ/dsm with PSD having the maximum calorific value of 16 MJ/dsm.
authors: Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors: Prakash
authors: P
authors: Srinivasan
authors: Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand. Electronic address: a.sarmah@auckland.ac.nz.
authors: Ajit K
authors: AK
authors: Sarmah
authors: School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide 5005, Australia.
authors: Ron
authors: R
authors: Smernik
authors: Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors: Oisik
authors: O
authors: Das
authors: Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Auckland, 20 Symonds Street, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors: Mohammed
authors: M
authors: Farid
authors: Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Auckland, 20 Symonds Street, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors: Wei
authors: W
authors: Gao
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D000383:Agriculture; D002606:Charcoal; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D012722:Sewage; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D014481:United States; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D012722:Sewage; D012989:Soil Pollutants; C540010:biochar; D002606:Charcoal
keywords: Biochar; Biocomposite; Biomass; Calorific value; Remediation; Syngas; Waste