Abstract
Biochars were produced from softwood chips (spruce–fir mix) and hemp stalk biomasses in an in-house-developed microwave pyrolysis reactor. A kilogram batch raw biomass mixed with 10 wt% microwave absorber was pyrolyzed at 60-min residence time. Microwave power levels were set at 2100, 2400, and 2700 W with optimum heating rates ranging 25–50 °C/min. The proximate analysis indicated a progressive gain in biochar carbon content with power level increase. Both biochars showed a H:C ratio of < 1.2 with a graphite-like structure, which is an important observation for their potential use as a filler in bio-composites structural strength increase. Fourier Transfer Infrared (FT-IR) spectra showed a major loss of functional groups as the power level increased. Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area and porosity distribution contained higher volume of smaller pores in the hemp biochar. The char hardness and Young’s modulus, obtained via nanoindentation technique and load–depth curve analysis, indicated that hemp biochar possessed a higher Young’s modulus and lower hardness than softwood chip biochar.
Highlights
Sustainability has been a common theme driving research and innovation in recent years due to greater awareness and sensitivity to the changing global climate
Materials Two biomass feedstocks were chosen for this study, the first being a combination of spruce/fir softwood chip that was locally sourced and donated by Devon Lumber Co
The heating rate is considered to be the rate of rise in temperature during the first 10 min of the experiment (°C/min) and the residence temperature is considered to be the average temperature during the last 30 min of the hour long experiment (°C)
Summary
Sustainability has been a common theme driving research and innovation in recent years due to greater awareness and sensitivity to the changing global climate. Alternative fuels, and advanced materials are becoming innovation forefronts, as humankind strives to maintain or exceed its level of global infrastructure without further harming the natural environment. Biomass wastes as an alternative resource can be used to develop novel value-added products in terms of new energy source and lightweight, superior-strength materials. Due to the unique structure of this carbon-based material, it has already seen use in carbon sequestration and wastewater treatment applications. Further consideration to this technology is given in terms of potential use for soil remediation in agriculture (Zama et al 2018), hipower battery (Saavedra et al 2018), and high-strength composite materials (Das et al 2015a, 2016a) applications. With current and prospective utilization of biochar increasing, it is inevitable that large-scale manufacturing demands will increase
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