A review on the conversion of plant husk-based biomass into biochar

Abstract

This study sheds light on the synthesis, properties, and application of plant husk-derived biomass into biochar through thermochemical conversion processes. Gasification, pyrolysis, hydrothermal carbonization, and torrefaction are the thermochemical processes that have been used in this regard. Investigation into production variables revealed that temperature, carbonization duration, and heating rate significantly influence the yield and characteristics of husk-based biochar, including surface area and porosity, with temperature exerting the most notable impact. It was observed that torrefaction gave rise to biochar with a relatively higher yield than the other processes, which may be due to the low temperatures usually utilized. The properties of husk-based biochar typically exhibit a carbon content exceeding 45% of its total weight. It was observed that husk-based biochar has been applied as a catalyst, for soil amendment, environmental remediation, and water treatment. The identification of research gaps shows the need for further exploration into the intricacies of conversion processes, as well as the consequences for socio-environmental factors, technical scalability, and economic feasibility.