Reverse engineering of biochar.
This study underpins quantitative relationships that account for the combined effects that starting biomass and peak pyrolysis temperature have on physico-chemical properties of biochar. Meta-data was assembled from published data of diverse biochar samples (n=102) to (i) obtain networks of intercorrelated properties and (ii) derive models that predict biochar properties. Assembled correlation networks provide a qualitative overview of the combinations of biochar properties likely to occur in a sample. Generalized Linear Models are constructed to account for situations of varying complexity, including: dependence of biochar properties on single or multiple predictor variables, where dependence on multiple variables can have additive and/or interactive effects; non-linear relation between the response and predictors; and non-Gaussian data distributions. The web-tool Biochar Engineering implements the derived models to maximize their utility and distribution. Provided examples illustrate the practical use of the networks, models and web-tool to engineer biochars with prescribed properties desirable for hypothetical scenarios.
SIMBIOS Centre, Abertay University, Dundee DD1 1HG, UK. Electronic address: morales@ifu.baug.ethz.ch.
Verónica L
VL
Morales
Institute for Complex Systems and Mathematical Biology, SUPA, Department of Physics, University of Aberdeen, Old Aberdeen AB24 3UE, UK.
Francisco J
FJ
Pérez-Reche
SIMBIOS Centre, Abertay University, Dundee DD1 1HG, UK.
Simona M
SM
Hapca
Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 1453, USA.
Kelly L
KL
Hanley
Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 1453, USA.
Johannes
J
Lehmann
Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences, Environmental Science and Policy Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.
Wei
W
Zhang
D018533:Biomass; D002606:Charcoal / Q000737:chemistry*; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D004738:Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D020407:Internet; D016014:Linear Models
C540010:biochar; D002606:Charcoal
Correlation networks; Generalized Linear Models; Physico-chemical properties; Slow-pyrolysis; Web-tool