Optimisation of slow-pyrolysis process conditions to maximise char yield and heavy metal adsorption of biochar produced from different feedstocks

•Taguchi design was used to optimise pyrolysis process conditions for multiple feedstocks.•Temperature had greatest influence on char yield but not adsorption performance.•Catalytic effect of feedstock components reduced energy input and improved adsorption.•Grass fibre char removed 92.96% Zn from g...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Bioresource technology 2016-08, Vol.214, p.574-581
Main Authors: Hodgson, E., Lewys-James, A., Rao Ravella, S., Thomas-Jones, S., Perkins, W., Gallagher, J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adsorption
Bio-refinery
Biomass
Bioreactors
Charcoal - chemistry
Environmental Pollution
Environmental Restoration and Remediation - methods
Fraxinus - metabolism
Fraxinus excelsior
Grasses
Groundwater - chemistry
Hot Temperature
Lolium - metabolism
Lolium perenne
Metals, Heavy - chemistry
Miscanthus
Picea - metabolism
Picea sitchensis
Remediation
Salix - metabolism
Salix viminalis
Taguchi-method
Water Pollutants - chemistry
Zinc
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Summary:•Taguchi design was used to optimise pyrolysis process conditions for multiple feedstocks.•Temperature had greatest influence on char yield but not adsorption performance.•Catalytic effect of feedstock components reduced energy input and improved adsorption.•Grass fibre char removed 92.96% Zn from groundwater after pyrolysis for 2h at 300°C. The objective of this work was to identify biomass feedstocks and optimum pyrolysis process conditions to produce a biochar capable of adsorbing metals from polluted groundwater. Taguchi experimental design was used to determine the effects of slow-pyrolysis process conditions on char yield and zinc adsorption. Treatments were repeated using six candidate feedstocks (Lolium perenne, Lolium perenne fibre, Miscanthus x giganteus, Salix viminalis, Fraxinus excelsior and Picea sitchensis) and the resultant chars were tested for metal adsorption performance. Chars produced from L. perenne and its extracted fibre displayed the greatest zinc adsorption performance and removed 83.27–92.96% respectively. Optimum process conditions in terms of both char yield and zinc adsorption performance were achieved from slow-pyrolysis at 300°C for 2h using a feedstock with a particle size of less than 1mm.
ISSN:0960-8524
1873-2976
DOI:10.1016/j.biortech.2016.05.009