Micromorphology and Pore Size Evaluation of Biomass Chars During Pyrolysis

Abstract

Development and growth in the global economy have increased energy consumption. The energy requirements presently are majorly generated with the use of fossil fuels. Extensive use of fossil fuels will lead to depletion of fossil fuels but also lead to environmental problems. The present paper discusses the micromorphology and the pore size developed in a coconut shell, coconut fiber, sugarcane bagasse, and maize stalk chars during non-isothermal pyrolysis. Nitrogen adsorption–desorption studies evince that the resulting pore size for coconut shell and maize stalk char samples are largely macro-porous. Coconut fiber and sugarcane bagasse chars are microporous and mesoporous in nature. Sugarcane bagasse char resulted in a higher BET surface area around 838 m2/g compared to coconut fiber, coconut shell, and maize stalk chars (441 m2/g, 91 m2/g, and 360 m2/g). The resulting biomass chars have varied applications in electrochemical devices.