Evolution and correlation of the physiochemical properties of bamboo char under successive pyrolysis process

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of bamboo age, bamboo parts, and pyrolysis temperatures on the physiochemical properties of bamboo char throughout a series of pyrolysis processes spanning from 150 °C to 1000 °C. The results indicated that as the pyrolysis temperature increased from 150 °C to 500 °C, the yield of bamboo char experienced a rapid decline, settling at a maximum of 69%, with no significant impact from bamboo age and parts. Subsequently, as the pyrolysis temperature continued to rise from 500 °C to 1000 °C, the yield stabilized at 25.74–32.64%. Besides, fixed carbon (FC), volatile matter (VM), and ash content were temperature-dependent, while the H/C, O/C, (N + O)/C, and aromatic index kept constant after reaching 500 °C. Notably, 800 °C was confirmed to be a crucial turning point for physiochemical properties, at which the graphitic structural changes occurred, pore collapsed, and potassium salts released. Bamboo age was proved to enhance the stability. Pearson correlation coefficient (PCC) analysis revealed that the pyrolysis temperature was positively correlated (p < 0.01) with ash (0.76), FC (0.97), AI (0.81), R50 (0.77), and C–C/C = C/C–H (0.87). Conversely, negative correlations (p < 0.01) were observed with VM (−0.91), O/C (0.88), H/C (−0.95), (N + O)/C (−0.87), C loss (−0.79), and labile organic-C (−0.78). Additionally, bamboo age was negatively correlated (p < 0.01) with C loss (−0.40), volatile organic-C (−0.63), labile organic-C (−0.45), and recalcitrant organic-C (−0.40), but positively associated with R50 (0.54), refractory organic-C (0.42), and inorganic-C (0.52). Bamboo parts did not exhibit significant correlations with char properties. Graphical Abstract