Characterization of Biochar from Switchgrass Carbonization
Switchgrass is a high yielding, low-input intensive, native perennial grass that has been promoted as a major second-generation bioenergy crop. Raw switchgrass is not a readily acceptable feedstock in existing power plants that were built to accommodate coal and peat. The objective of this research...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2014-01-01
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| Series: | Energies |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/7/2/548 |
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| author | Samy Sadaka Mahmoud A. Sharara Amanda Ashworth Patrick Keyser Fred Allen Andrew Wright |
| author_facet | Samy Sadaka Mahmoud A. Sharara Amanda Ashworth Patrick Keyser Fred Allen Andrew Wright |
| author_sort | Samy Sadaka |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Switchgrass is a high yielding, low-input intensive, native perennial grass that has been promoted as a major second-generation bioenergy crop. Raw switchgrass is not a readily acceptable feedstock in existing power plants that were built to accommodate coal and peat. The objective of this research was to elucidate some of the characteristics of switchgrass biochar produced via carbonization and to explore its potential use as a solid fuel. Samples were carbonized in a batch reactor under reactor temperatures of 300, 350 and 400 °C for 1, 2 and 3 h residence times. Biochar mass yield and volatile solids decreased from 82.6% to 35.2% and from 72.1% to 43.9%, respectively, by increasing carbonization temperatures from 300 °C to 400 °C and residence times from 1 h to 3 h. Conversely, biochar heating value (HV) and fixed carbon content increased from 17.6 MJ kg−1 to 21.9 MJ kg−1 and from 22.5% to 44.9%, respectively, under the same conditions. A biomass discoloration index (BDI) was created to quantify changes in biochar colors as affected by the two tested parameters. The maximum BDI of 77% was achieved at a carbonization temperature of 400 °C and a residence time of 3 h. The use of this index could be expanded to quantify biochar characteristics as affected by thermochemical treatments. Carbonized biochar could be considered a high quality solid fuel based on its energy content. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T13:04:59Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-55f1b1d833ef46dd88de87f206a927ab |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T13:04:59Z |
| publishDate | 2014-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj.art-55f1b1d833ef46dd88de87f206a927ab2022-12-22T04:22:47ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732014-01-017254856710.3390/en7020548en7020548Characterization of Biochar from Switchgrass CarbonizationSamy Sadaka0Mahmoud A. Sharara1Amanda Ashworth2Patrick Keyser3Fred Allen4Andrew Wright5Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, Little Rock, AR 72204, USADepartment of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, Little Rock, AR 72204, USACenter for Native Grasslands Management, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USACenter for Native Grasslands Management, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USADepartment of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USADepartment of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, Little Rock, AR 72204, USASwitchgrass is a high yielding, low-input intensive, native perennial grass that has been promoted as a major second-generation bioenergy crop. Raw switchgrass is not a readily acceptable feedstock in existing power plants that were built to accommodate coal and peat. The objective of this research was to elucidate some of the characteristics of switchgrass biochar produced via carbonization and to explore its potential use as a solid fuel. Samples were carbonized in a batch reactor under reactor temperatures of 300, 350 and 400 °C for 1, 2 and 3 h residence times. Biochar mass yield and volatile solids decreased from 82.6% to 35.2% and from 72.1% to 43.9%, respectively, by increasing carbonization temperatures from 300 °C to 400 °C and residence times from 1 h to 3 h. Conversely, biochar heating value (HV) and fixed carbon content increased from 17.6 MJ kg−1 to 21.9 MJ kg−1 and from 22.5% to 44.9%, respectively, under the same conditions. A biomass discoloration index (BDI) was created to quantify changes in biochar colors as affected by the two tested parameters. The maximum BDI of 77% was achieved at a carbonization temperature of 400 °C and a residence time of 3 h. The use of this index could be expanded to quantify biochar characteristics as affected by thermochemical treatments. Carbonized biochar could be considered a high quality solid fuel based on its energy content.http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/7/2/548switchgrasscarbonizationbiocharBDIco-firing |
| spellingShingle | Samy Sadaka Mahmoud A. Sharara Amanda Ashworth Patrick Keyser Fred Allen Andrew Wright Characterization of Biochar from Switchgrass Carbonization Energies switchgrass carbonization biochar BDI co-firing |
| title | Characterization of Biochar from Switchgrass Carbonization |
| title_full | Characterization of Biochar from Switchgrass Carbonization |
| title_fullStr | Characterization of Biochar from Switchgrass Carbonization |
| title_full_unstemmed | Characterization of Biochar from Switchgrass Carbonization |
| title_short | Characterization of Biochar from Switchgrass Carbonization |
| title_sort | characterization of biochar from switchgrass carbonization |
| topic | switchgrass carbonization biochar BDI co-firing |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/7/2/548 |
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