scholarly journals Production of Biochar from Biomass

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 43-44
Author(s):  
Iqmat Iyiola ◽  
Deepak Pudasainee ◽  
Monir Khan ◽  
Rajender Gupta
Keyword(s):  
Surface Area ◽  
Soil Amendment ◽  
Wood Sample ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Nitrogen Atmosphere ◽  
Renewable Fuel ◽  
Weight Loss Behavior ◽  
Environmentally Sound ◽  
Water Holding ◽  
Soil Additive

Biochar is a kind of charcoal that’s produced from biomass using pyrolysis technology. As climate change continues to be a growing concern, biochar has been sought for its environmental applications. It is both cost effective and environmentally sound in terms of being a soil additive and renewable fuel. When used as a soil amendment, biochar has been shown to improve water holding capacity and absorb more nutrients. Biochar also sequesters carbon dioxide when applied to soil, and can also be used as a replacement for activated carbon that is prepared from coal. The objectives of this research was to produce biochar from biomass and study biochar’s properties. A thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was used to measure the weight loss behavior of the wood sample (biomass) as the temperature increased. The biomass was heated to 500 °C in a nitrogen atmosphere and then cooled in nitrogen to prevent combustion of biochar. The overall yield of biochar was 15%. Elemental analysis of biomass shows the composition of the sample to be mostly carbon and oxygen with fewer amounts of hydrogen and nitrogen. Surface area of the prepared biochar was 305 m2/g, which is approximately 100 times the surface area of raw biomass. Biochar’s higher porosity will allow for greater absorption of nutrients when applied to soil.

Sludge Management and Disposal Practices of the County Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles (USA)

1990 ◽  
Vol 22 (12) ◽  
pp. 23-32
Author(s):  
Charles W. Carry ◽  
James F. Stahl ◽  
Blair E. Hansen ◽  
Philip L. Friess
Keyword(s):  
Los Angeles ◽  
Pollution Control ◽  
Soil Amendment ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽  
Landfill Gas ◽  
Control Plant ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Private Company ◽  
Environmentally Sound ◽  
A Site

The County Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County (Districts) operate a network of six wastewater treatment plants called the Joint Outfall System (JOS) which treat a wastewater flow of approximately 22.3 m3/s (510 mgd). Centralized sludge processing for the JOS is performed at the largest plant in the system, the Joint Water Pollution Control Plant (JWPCP). Sludge is anaerobically digested, dewatered in scroll centrifuges, and either composted and sold to a private company which produces bagged soil amendment products or codisposed with refuse at a site which recovers energy from landfill gas with a 46 net megawatt steam turbine power plant. Future sludge handling will include dehydration followed by incineration for most of the sludge now landfilled. JWPCP accomplishes an environmentally sound and cost effective balance of solids disposal to the air, land and water.

Growth of Container-grown Plants With and Without Azomite Soil Amendment

HortScience ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 492c-492
Author(s):  
Chris Ely ◽  
Mark A. Hubbard
Keyword(s):  
Plant Growth ◽  
Physical Properties ◽  
Bulk Density ◽  
Soil Amendment ◽  
Extended Period ◽  
Mineral Elements ◽  
Field Soil ◽  
Rooted Cuttings ◽  
Sodium Calcium ◽  
Water Holding

Azomite is a mined, commercially available, hydrated sodium calcium aluminosiliclate soil amendment reported to act as a source of mineral elements. To determine its effect on plant growth, Dendranthema `Connie' rooted cuttings, Malus seedlings, and Citrus seedlings were grown in containers in one of two growing media: ProMix BX or ProMix BX with Azomite (1:1, v:v). Plant height was monitored weekly and after 6 weeks of growth, fresh and dry plant weights of roots and shoots were determined. There was no difference in any of the parameters measured as a result of the addition of Azomite. Any nutritional influence of the Azomite may only be evident in different conditions, e.g., field soil, or over an extended period of time. The Azomite altered the medium's physical properties and therefore bulk density and water-holding capacity of the Azomite were determined for consideration.

scholarly journals Effect of Low Zeolite Doses on Plants and Soil Physicochemical Properties

Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (10) ◽  
pp. 2617
Author(s):  
Alicja Szatanik-Kloc ◽  
Justyna Szerement ◽  
Agnieszka Adamczuk ◽  
Grzegorz Józefaciuk
Keyword(s):  
Plant Growth ◽  
Physicochemical Properties ◽  
Cation Exchange ◽  
Surface Area ◽  
Cation Exchange Capacity ◽  
N Fertilization ◽  
Exchange Capacity ◽  
First Year ◽  
Soil Physicochemical Properties ◽  
Water Holding

Thousands of tons of zeolitic materials are used yearly as soil conditioners and components of slow-release fertilizers. A positive influence of application of zeolites on plant growth has been frequently observed. Because zeolites have extremely large cation exchange capacity, surface area, porosity and water holding capacity, a paradigm has aroused that increasing plant growth is caused by a long-lasting improvement of soil physicochemical properties by zeolites. In the first year of our field experiment performed on a poor soil with zeolite rates from 1 to 8 t/ha and N fertilization, an increase in spring wheat yield was observed. Any effect on soil cation exchange capacity (CEC), surface area (S), pH-dependent surface charge (Qv), mesoporosity, water holding capacity and plant available water (PAW) was noted. This positive effect of zeolite on plants could be due to extra nutrients supplied by the mineral (primarily potassium—1 ton of the studied zeolite contained around 15 kg of exchangeable potassium). In the second year of the experiment (NPK treatment on previously zeolitized soil), the zeolite presence did not impact plant yield. No long-term effect of the zeolite on plants was observed in the third year after soil zeolitization, when, as in the first year, only N fertilization was applied. That there were no significant changes in the above-mentioned physicochemical properties of the field soil after the addition of zeolite was most likely due to high dilution of the mineral in the soil (8 t/ha zeolite is only ~0.35% of the soil mass in the root zone). To determine how much zeolite is needed to improve soil physicochemical properties, much higher zeolite rates than those applied in the field were studied in the laboratory. The latter studies showed that CEC and S increased proportionally to the zeolite percentage in the soil. The Qv of the zeolite was lower than that of the soil, so a decrease in soil variable charge was observed due to zeolite addition. Surprisingly, a slight increase in PAW, even at the largest zeolite dose (from 9.5% for the control soil to 13% for a mixture of 40 g zeolite and 100 g soil), was observed. It resulted from small alterations of the soil macrostructure: although the input of small zeolite pores was seen in pore size distributions, the larger pores responsible for the storage of PAW were almost not affected by the zeolite addition.

scholarly journals Biodiesel Production from Melia azedarach and Ricinus communis Oil by Transesterification Process

Catalysts ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 427 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Awais ◽  
Sa’ed A Musmar ◽  
Faryal Kabir ◽  
Iram Batool ◽  
Muhammad Asif Rasheed ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ricinus Communis ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Biodiesel Production ◽  
Molar Ratio ◽  
Melia Azedarach ◽  
Renewable Fuel ◽  
Animal Fats ◽  
Edible Crops ◽  
American Society

Biodiesel is a renewable fuel usually produced from vegetable oils and animal fats. This study investigates the extraction of oil and its conversion into biodiesel by base-catalyzed transesterification. Firstly, the effect of various solvents (methanol, n-hexane, chloroform, di-ethyl ether) on extraction of oil from non-edible crops, such as R. communis and M. azedarach, were examined. It was observed that a higher concentration of oil was obtained from R. communis (43.6%) as compared to M. azedarach (35.6%) by using methanol and n-hexane, respectively. The extracted oils were subjected to NaOH (1%) catalyzed transesterification by analyzing the effect of oil/methanol molar ratio (1:4, 1:6, 1:8 and 1:10) and varying temperature (20, 40, 60 and 80 °C) for 2.5 h of reaction time. M. azedarach yielded 88% and R. communis yielded 93% biodiesel in 1:6 and 1:8 molar concentrations at ambient temperature whereas, 60 °C was selected as an optimum temperature, giving 90% (M. azedarach) and 94% (R. communis) biodiesel. The extracted oil and biodiesel were characterized for various parameters and most of the properties fulfilled the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standard biodiesel. The further characterization of fatty acids was done by Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometer (GC/MS) and oleic acid was found to be dominant in M. azedarach (61.5%) and R. communis contained ricinoleic acid (75.53%). Furthermore, the functional groups were analyzed by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy. The results suggested that both of the oils are easily available and can be used for commercial biodiesel production at a cost-effective scale.

scholarly journals Effective Removal of Malachite Green from Aqueous Solutions Using Magnetic Nanocomposite: Synthesis, Characterization, and Equilibrium Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Ali Q. Alorabi
Keyword(s):  
Surface Area ◽  
Malachite Green ◽  
Chemical Activation ◽  
Aqueous Media ◽  
Kinetic Studies ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Magnetic Nanocomposite ◽  
Bet Surface Area ◽  
Isotherm Models ◽  
Order Kinetic

In this work, magnetized activated Juniperus procera leaves (Fe3O4@AJPL) were successfully prepared via chemical activation of JPL and in situ coprecipitation with Fe3O4. A Fe3O4@AJPL nanocomposite was successfully applied for the elimination of malachite green (MG) dye from aqueous media. The prepared Fe3O4@AJPL adsorbent was characterized by SEM, EDX, TEM, XRD, FTIR, TGA, and BET surface area analyses. The BET surface area and pore size of the Fe3O4@AJPL nanocomposite were found to be 38.44 m2/g and 10.6 nm, respectively. The XRD and FTIR results indicated the formation of a Fe3O4@AJPL nanocomposite. Different parameters, such as pH of the solution (3–8), adsorbent dosage (10–100 mg), temperature (25–45°C), contact time (5-240 min), and initial MG concentrations (20–350 mg/L), for the elimination of the MG dye using Fe3O4@AJPL were optimized and found to be 7, 50 mg, 45°C, 120 min, and 150 mg/L, respectively. The nonlinear isotherm and kinetic studies exhibited a better fitting to second-order kinetic and Langmuir isotherm models, with a maximum monolayer adsorption capacity of 318.3 mg/g at 45°C, which was highly superior to the previously reported magnetic nanocomposite adsorbents. EDX analyses confirmed the presence of nitrogen on the Fe3O4@AJPL surface after MG adsorption. The calculated thermodynamic factors indicated endothermic and spontaneous processes. The desorption of MG dye from Fe3O4@AJPL was performed using a solution of 90% ethanol. Finally, it could be concluded that the designed Fe3O4@AJPL magnetic nanocomposite will be a cost-effective and promising adsorbent for the elimination of MG from aqueous media.

scholarly journals Development of Activated Carbon Using One Step Carbonization and Activation Reaction by Polymer Blend Method

2015 ◽  
Vol 57 ◽  
pp. 156-162 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Manocha ◽  
Parth Joshi ◽  
Amit Brahmbhatt ◽  
Amiya Banerjee ◽  
Snehasis Sahoo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Activated Carbon ◽  
Surface Area ◽  
Surface Characteristics ◽  
Nitrogen Atmosphere ◽  
Activation Process ◽  
Average Pore ◽  
Activation Temperature ◽  
Optimum Synthesis ◽  
Different Temperatures ◽  
One Step

In the present work, a one step carbon activation process was developed by stabilized poly-blend. It is carbonized in nitrogen atmosphere and activated in steam in one step for known interval of times to enhance the surface area and develop interconnected porosity. The weight-loss behavior during steam activation of stabilized poly-blend at different temperatures, surface area and pore size distribution were studied to identify the optimum synthesis parameters. The results of surface characteristics were compared with those of activated carbon prepared by carbonization and activation in two steps. It was found that activation temperature has profound effect on surface characteristics. As activation temperature was raised from 800 °C to 1150 °C, surface area of activated carbon increased about three times. In addition to surface area, average pore diameter also increases with increasing activation temperature. Thus, activated carbon with high percentage of porosity and surface area can be developed by controlling the activation temperature during activation process.

Template-free synthesis of nanocage-like g-C3N4 with high surface area and nitrogen defects for enhanced photocatalytic H2 activity

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (10) ◽  
pp. 5324-5332 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mao Wu ◽  
Yansheng Gong ◽  
Tao Nie ◽  
Jin Zhang ◽  
Rui Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Surface Area ◽  
Carbon Nitride ◽  
High Surface ◽  
High Surface Area ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Porous Graphitic Carbon ◽  
Graphitic Carbon ◽  
Graphitic Carbon Nitride ◽  
Template Free

Nanocage-like 3D porous graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) with a high surface area and nitrogen defects was successfully prepared via a novel, template-free, cost-effective and hydrothermal-copolymerization route.

scholarly journals Elemental Composition of Biochar Obtained from Agricultural Waste for Soil Amendment and Carbon Sequestration

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (19) ◽  
pp. 3980 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saowanee Wijitkosum ◽  
Preamsuda Jiwnok
Keyword(s):  
Surface Area ◽  
Soil Amendment ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Crop Residues ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Agricultural Waste ◽  
Total Pore Volume ◽  
Appropriate Technology ◽  
Bet Surface Area ◽  
Agricultural Crop

For an agricultural country such as Thailand, converting agricultural waste into biochar offers a potential solution to manage massive quantities of crop residues following harvest. This research studied the structure and chemical composition of biochar obtained from cassava rhizomes, cassava stems and corncobs, produced using a patented locally-manufactured biochar kiln using low-cost appropriate technology designed to be fabricated locally by farmers. The research found that cassava stems yielded the highest number of Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area in the biochar product, while chemical analysis indicated that corncobs yielded the highest amount of C (81.35%). The amount of H in the corncob biochar was also the highest (2.42%). The study also showed biochar produced by slow pyrolysis was of a high quality, with stable C and low H/C ratio. Biochar’s high BET surface area and total pore volume makes it suitable for soil amendment, contributing to reduced soil density, higher soil moisture and aeration and reduced leaching of plant nutrients from the rhizosphere. Biochar also provides a conducive habitat for beneficial soil microorganisms. The findings indicate that soil incorporation of biochar produced from agricultural crop residues can enhance food security and mitigate the contribution of the agricultural sector to climate change impacts.

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