Chemometric analysis unravelling the effect of key influencing factors on algal biochar yield

Abstract

This study attempted to comprehend the key influencing factors amongst 16 variables on algal biochar production by pyrolysis from 115 datasets using chemometric tools such as Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Multidimensional scaling (MDS). PCA results revealed that the first 5 principal components (PCs) accounted for 81.75 % of available dataset variability. Results of both PCA and MDS marked out the pyrolysis parameters, C (%), H (%), O (%), N (%), H/C, N/C, O/C as the main determining factors of algal biochar yield. The results also tied the occurrence of high algal char yields to low temperature-less residence time-moderate heating rate regimen. The correlations validated with the supportive findings of MDS, further revealed that algal biochar production is a complex process, which is dependent on the interplay of multiple variables involved rather than any singular major factor. The results thus offered an insight into the condensed criteria that presents an important cue for research and industry to achieve high algal biochar yields.