Abstract
Banana peels waste can be utilized to produce high quality biochar that can be incorporated into the soil for sustainable production of crops. This research analyzed several properties of the biochar produced from the banana peel at different temperatures, residence times and heating rates. This study focuses on the biochar yield and the EDX analysis of the biochar produced. Response surface methodology using central composite design (CCD) was used to optimize these parameters in the batch reactor pyrolysis system. These factors were operated in different ranges for banana peels, in which pyrolysis temperature (200 to 600°C), residence time (60 to 180 min) and heating rate (5 to 15°C·min−1) were varied using 20 experiments respectively. Quality of the biochar was determined based on the biochar yield and O/C ratio. The optimum biochar chosen from the CCD model was applied to several pots of Ipomoea aquatica in different biochar dosage levels of 0, 3, 9 and 15 g (0, 1, 3 and 5 wt% of soil) respectively. Pot experiment was conducted with completely randomized design (CRD) of one factor with five replications to correlate the average plant heights with the biochar dosage levels. Results showed that biochar dosage of 1% yields the highest average final Ipomoea aquatica plant height of 37.04 cm.
Highlights
Malaysia is currently under the development of newly industrialized economy, where agricultural field serves as the backbone of this economy even since a long time ago (Abu Darhak, 2015)
This study aims to investigate the properties of biochar by slow pyrolysis for banana peels at different temperatures, heating rates and residence times
Banana peels biomass proves to be a potential precursor to biochar
Summary
Malaysia is currently under the development of newly industrialized economy, where agricultural field serves as the backbone of this economy even since a long time ago (Abu Darhak, 2015). The intensified agricultural and industrial activities produce various wastes that cause negative impacts to the environment. Agriculture field serves as one of the main contributors to the production of biomass from harvested yields. Biomass can cause environmental impact such as emission of greenhouse gases (GHG) and pollution of surface water and groundwater if not properly managed and treated. Concern on the management of these biomass has been arising and many ways have been developed to convert this waste into energy. Production of biochar through slow pyrolysis of biomass is being practised in Malaysia, albeit not fully commercialized
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