Comparing Corn Stover and Switchgrass Biochar: Characterization and Sorption Properties

Abstract

A switchgrass biochar (SB) produced by fast pyrolysis and a corn stover biochar (CSB) from a slow pyrolysis process were mechanically milled and characterized. Both of these biochars are very cost-effective and originate as residues from bioenergy production and the corn industry, respectively. These two biochars were evaluated for their sorptive properties with both water and the estrogen containing compounds estrone, β-estradiol, and zearalenone via batch rebinding assays in salt solutions. Although CSB had greater total surface area than SB, SB was a more porous biochar, indicated by its greater micropore surface area. For both water and all estrogen containing compounds, SB had better sorptive capability, most likely due to its higher micropore surface area. These results suggest ball milled biochars from switchgrass and corn stover offer promise for a sustainable approach to removing toxins from water.

Corn Cob as a Potential Feedstock for Slow Pyrolysis of Biomass

“…3,5 Slow pyrolysis requires long holding time of at least 30 min to several hours for the feedstock to fully pyrolyse while fast pyrolysis is complete in as little as two seconds. 4,7 Flash pyrolysis requires shorter holding times than fast pyrolysis. 3 Slow pyrolysis gives maximum yield of biochar and gas but produce less liquid, while fast and flash pyrolysis produce higher liquid yields.…”

The effect of augmentation of biochar and hydrochar in anaerobic digestion of a model substrate

“…All the chars exhibited stretching bands for OH (3650–3200 cm −1 ) which indicated the presence of alcohols, phenols and carboxylic acids, aliphatic v(CH) from –CH 2 groups (2950–2920 cm −1 ), C≡C (2260–2150 cm −1 ), C = C (2050–2000 cm −1 ), aryl groups (phenolic groups) (1715–1695 cm −1 ), COO – (1610–1550 cm −1 ) and CO 3 -2 (1426–1410 cm −1 ). In addition to those structures, HCs presented a wider range of groups including aliphatic v(CH) from CH 3 groups (2870–2840 cm −1 ), open-chain amides (1570–1515 cm −1 ), ether groups (1275–1200 cm −1 ) and polysaccharide region (1160–1020 cm −1 ) ( Fleming and Williams, 1966 , Johnston, 2017 , Peterson et al, 2013 ). All the chars exhibited aliphatic, OFGs and aryl groups, although the HCs spectra were generally more intense than BCs, indicating a broader surface functionality.…”

Germinación de semillas de tomate (Solanum lycopersicum), papaya (Carica papaya L.) y maracuyá (Passiflora edulis) utilizando sustratos orgánicos

“…Los contenidos de nutrientes y pH del biocarbón obtenido en este experimento fueron comparables con los reportados por otros autores que usaron bajas temperaturas en la elaboración (Alonso et al, 2016;Peterson et al, 2013), estos mismos autores también han reportado el aumento en el contenido de nutrientes cuando el biocarbón es adicionado al suelo. Inicialmente el suelo usado en este trabajo tenía bajo contenido de elementos mayores y menores, y alta acidez potencial e intercambiable (Tabla 3), indicando una baja fertilidad natural; después de aplicar los tratamientos hubo disminución en los diferentes tipos de acidez (Tabla 4).…”