The effect of pyrolysis temperature on biochar properties is significant.
It influences various characteristics such as fixed carbon content, pH, higher heating value, BET surface area, and biodegradability.
Higher pyrolysis temperatures generally lead to biochars with higher fixed carbon content.
These biochars also have an increased pH.
They have a higher heating value.
And they have a larger BET surface area.
However, these chars tend to have a lower initial biodegradability due to their higher fixed carbon content, which is less easily biodegradable.
1. Fixed Carbon Content
The fixed carbon content in biochar increases with higher pyrolysis temperatures.
This is a measure of the carbon remaining in the char after volatile materials are driven off.
Higher temperatures promote more intense thermal decomposition.
This leads to a greater conversion of biomass into stable carbon structures.
For instance, biochars produced at higher temperatures showed a strong dependence on the intensity of the thermal treatment, indicating a higher fixed carbon content.
2. pH and Higher Heating Value
The pH of biochar solutions and its higher heating value both positively correlate with the pyrolysis temperature.
Higher temperatures result in chars that are more alkaline.
They also have a higher energy content.
This can be beneficial for certain applications such as soil amendment or energy production.
3. BET Surface Area
The BET surface area, a measure of the surface area available for adsorption or other chemical reactions, also increases with higher pyrolysis temperatures.
This is crucial for applications where adsorption properties are important, such as in water treatment or as a catalyst support.
4. Biodegradability
Interestingly, while higher pyrolysis temperatures produce chars with more desirable physical and chemical properties, they also result in chars that are initially less biodegradable.
This is because chars produced at lower temperatures contain more volatile, easily biodegradable carbon compounds.
In soil incubation tests, chars with high fixed carbon content (produced at higher temperatures) initially reduced the carbon mineralization rate.
This suggests that the soil microbial community needs time to adapt to the new conditions.
In summary, the pyrolysis temperature is a critical parameter in biochar production.
It influences its properties in various ways.
The choice of temperature depends on the intended application of the biochar.
Higher temperatures generally produce chars with better physical and chemical properties but lower initial biodegradability.
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