Influence of Pyro-Gasification and Activation Conditions on the Porosity of Activated Biochars: A Literature Review

Abstract

Biochar is a carbon-rich organic material that has advantageous physicochemical properties for applications in multidisciplinary areas of science and engineering, including soil amendment, carbon sequestration, bioenergy production, and site rehabilitation. However, the typically low porosity and surface area of biochars (from 0.1 to 500 m2 g−1) limits the suitability for other applications, such as catalysis, electrochemistry, energy storage, and contaminant sorption in drinking water and wastewater. Given the high global demand for activated carbon products, scientists and industrialists are exploring the potential of biochar-derived biomass as precursors for activated carbons. This review presents and discusses the available studies on activated biochars produced from various precursor feedstocks and under different operating conditions in a two-step procedure: pyro-gasification (torrefaction, slow to flash pyrolysis, and gasification) followed by activation (physical, chemical or physicochemical). Findings from several case studies demonstrate that lignocellulosic residues provide attractive precursors, and that chemical activation of the derived biochars at high temperature and long residence time produces highly porous end materials. Indeed, the porosity of activated biochars varies greatly (from 200 to 2500 m2 g−1), depending on the pyro-gasification operating conditions and the feedstock (different feedstocks have distinct morphological and chemical structures). The results also indicate that the development of highly porous activated biochars for diverse purposes (e.g., electrodes for electrochemical energy storage devices, catalyst supports and adsorbents for water treatment) would benefit both the bioeconomy and the environment. Notably, it would leverage the potential of added-value biomass as an economical, non-fossil, readily available, and renewable energy source.