An Innovative Agro-Forestry Supply Chain for Residual Biomass: Physicochemical Characterisation of Biochar from Olive and Hazelnut Pellets

Abstract

Concerns about climate change and food productivity have spurred interest in biochar, a form of charred organic material typically used in agriculture to improve soil productivity and as a means of carbon sequestration. An innovative approach in agriculture is the use of agro-forestry waste for the production of soil fertilisers for agricultural purposes and as a source of energy. A common agricultural practice is to burn crop residues in the field to produce ashes that can be used as soil fertilisers. This approach is able to supply plants with certain nutrients, such as Ca, K, Mg, Na, B, S, and Mo. However, the low concentration of N and P in the ashes, together with the occasional presence of heavy metals (Ni, Pb, Cd, Se, Al, etc.), has a negative effect on soil and, therefore, crop productivity. This work describes the opportunity to create an innovative supply chain from agricultural waste biomass. Olive (Olea europaea) and hazelnut (Corylus avellana) pruning residues represent a major component of biomass waste in the area of Viterbo (Italy). In this study, we evaluated the production of biochar from these residues. Furthermore, a physicochemical characterisation of the produced biochar was performed to assess the quality of the two biochars according to the standards of the European Biochar Certificate (EBC). The results of this study indicate the cost-effective production of high-quality biochar from olive and hazelnut biomass residues.

An Economical Evaluation of Anaerobic Digestion Plants Fed with Organic Agro-Industrial Waste

“…The sale price of electricity in the free market for 2017 was considered equal to €39.38/MWh [25][26][27][28].…”

Jatropha curcas, L. Pruning Residues for Energy: Characteristics of an Untapped By-Product

“…This method is often used to describe the maturity, decomposition rate, and combustion behavior of fossil chars and coal [46], but also to predict biomass properties, such as the higher heating value, and potentially in predicting lignin, and other similar quantities for biomass [47]. The biomass feedstocks that fall within clusters in the van Krevelen diagram will have similar properties, regardless of their category (waste, wood, etc.).…”

“…The C content in woody biomass is higher than in herbaceous biomass fuels, explaining the slightly higher gross calorific value of woody biomass ( Figure 2). Furthermore, jatropha wood has a higher H:C ratio, indicating a major predisposition to microbial degradation [46]. High ash content is another characteristic that negatively affects the biomass energy content [51].…”

Biomass Chars: Elaboration, Characterization and Applications

“…Zambon et al [1] have shown an innovative approach in agriculture by the use of agro-forestry waste for the production of soil fertilizers for agricultural purposes and as a source of energy. A common agricultural practice is to burn crop residues in the field to produce ashes that can be used as soil fertilizers.…”

“…This book contains the successful invited submissions [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15] to a Special Issue of Energies on the subject area of "Biomass Chars: Elaboration, Characterization, and Applications". The invited editors have decided to focus the Special Issue on the specific topic of biomass transformation and use.…”