Morpho-mineralogical exploration of crop, weed and tree derived biochar

Abstract

It has been quantified the influence of four feedstocks and three pyrolysis temperature on twenty nine morpho-mineralogical characteristics of biochar for their wide range of environmental and soil application. The morpho-mineralogical characteristics were principally manipulated by feedstocks rather than pyrolysis temperature. With increase in pyrolysis temperature the average decrease in biochar mass yield was 20.69%. With increase in pyrolysis temperature the higher heating value of all the four biochar decreased. The X-ray diffraction band patterns of biochar were of an amorphous with crystalline structure and represented significant quartz content. The crystallinity index deceased (average 8.98%) in all biochar with increase in pyrolysis temperature. The presence of crystalline stripes on black dots in transmission electron microscopy proved that the nano-range like sheets was arranged in a tubostratic state. The biochar scanning electron microscopy images showed cross-linked porus structure with layer construction. Low temperature pyrolyzed biochar showed little acid soluble nutrients than high temperature. The existence of more water soluble minerals indicated its potential to act as a source of available plant nutrients. The energy density and energy yield of biochar were linearly and fuel ratio was inversely correlated with pyrolysis temperature.