Teak Sawdust Research Articles

Adsorption of lead from aqueous solution using Teak (Tectona grandis) sawdust

ABSTRACT Sawdust, a wood waste was used to prepare activated carbon, and its adsorptive performance in removing Pb2+ from wastewater was investigated. Modification of Teak sawdust was carried out using orthophosphoric acid. Physicochemical and adsorptive parameters of activated sawdust (ASD) were examined using Scanning Electron Microscope, Fourier Transform Infra-red, and EDX respectively. SEM images of ASD revealed defined pores, adsorbing Pb2+ ions to its surface, while the spectra showed the presence of functional groups accountable for Pb2+ ions adsorption. Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, and D-R Isotherm models were deployed to study the experimental data. Langmuir isotherm (R 2 = 0.9891) described the data with an adsorption monolayer capacity of 112.4 mg/g at 303 K. The D-R isotherm model depicted the mean free energy ranging from 1.29 to 4.08 kJ/mol, suggesting physisorption adsorption. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model was best fitted for the sorption process with R 2 values between 0.9996 and 0.9999. Adsorption thermodynamics reflected that the process was endothermic and spontaneous. Therefore, the utilisation of an economical activated carbon modified from Teak (Tectona grandis) sawdust was efficient for lead uptake from wastewater.

Influence of Adding Silicon Dioxide in Particleboard from Teak Sawdust to Reduce Water Absorption and Thickness Swelling

Influence of Adding Silicon Dioxide in Particleboard from Teak Sawdust to Reduce Water Absorption and Thickness Swelling

Optimalisasi Limbah Serbuk Gergaji Kayu Jati (Tectona grandis L.f) Sebagai Adsorben Logam Berat Kobalt (Co) dengan Metode Aktivasi Kimia

Teak wood (Tectona grandis L.f.), a high-quality wood commonly used in Indonesia, specifically in the Cilegon area, has the potential to be used as an alternative to reduce environmental pollution. This research aimed to test teak wood sawdust waste as an adsorbent for cobalt heavy metal, create activated charcoal from the sawdust waste for the same purpose, and determine the optimal conditions for treatment with and without chemical activation. Industrial waste samples were found to contain 50.7 ppm of cobalt metal through ICPS testing. Activated chemical adsorption, without activation and with industrial wastewater mixture, resulted in a decrease in cobalt metal concentration by 78.2% or 11.08 ppm. The optimal conditions for activated chemical adsorption were found at a pH of 5, an adsorbent mass of 600 mg, and a time of 40 minutes, resulting in decreases of 60.9% (21.2751 ppm), 71% (15.7821 ppm) and 67.7% (17.5812 ppm), respectively. The results show that teak wood sawdust waste can effectively adsorb cobalt heavy metal, providing a potential solution for industrial wastewater treatment.

Characterization of Bio-oil and Biochar Produced from Co-pyrolysis of Teak Wood Sawdust and Waste Plastic Bottles Using Ablative Pyrolyzer

Characterization of Bio-oil and Biochar Produced from Co-pyrolysis of Teak Wood Sawdust and Waste Plastic Bottles Using Ablative Pyrolyzer

Effect of Differences in the Composition of Growing Media on the Growth of White Oyster Mushroom Mycelium (Pleurotus ostreatus)

The use of the main growth medium in the form of wood sawdust in mushroom domestication is still higher than that of other organic materials, even though its availability is limited, so efforts need to be made to find a growth medium composition that minimizes the percentage of sawdust use. The purpose of this study was to determine the comparison of treatment 1 (80% teak sawdust, 10% bran, 5% tapioca flour, and 5% agricultural lime) with treatment 2 (70% teak sawdust, 15% bran, 10% tapioca flour, and 5% agricultural lime) on the percentage of growth and mycelium growth of white oyster mushrooms. Composting of growing media was carried out for 5 days, then baglog making was carried out, after which the baglog was sterilized for 4 hours. After sterilization, the baglog was cooled and inoculated. After inoculation, the baglog is incubated to grow mycelium. Then, after 15 days, data collection and calculation were carried out. The parameters measured were the percentage of growth and mycelium growth of white oyster mushrooms in baglogs. Results showed that the percentage of growth and mycelial growth of white oyster mushrooms in treatment 1 is better than in treatment 2. Reducing the percentage of the main growing medium of teak sawdust and adding the percentage of additional growing media of bran and tapioca flour has a negative impact on the number of baglogs that grow mycelium (percentage of growth) and the growth of white oyster mushroom mycelium. This means that reducing the main media of teak sawdust and adding additional media is not the right growing media composition for domestication of white oyster mushrooms, so it cannot be used as an alternative growing media composition to reduce the use of wood sawdust.

Selektivitas Adsorpsi Campuran Biner Fe(II)/Cu(II) Menggunakan Karbon Aktif dari Sekam Padi dan Serbuk Gergaji Kayu Jati

Increasing human needs cause an increase in production on an industrial scale and can have an impact on increasing contamination of the aquatic environment. Efforts to improve water quality can be made by removing contaminants using renewable activated carbon originating from agricultural waste such as rice husks and teak sawdust. This research aims to examine the adsorption capacity of activated carbon from rice husks (RHAC) and teak sawdust (TSAC) on a binary mixture of Fe(II)/Cu(II) as well as the level of selectivity of each adsorbent on Fe(II) and Cu(II) ions. RHAC and TSAC activated carbon are produced through carbonization processes (T=400 °C, t=60 minutes), reflux (NaOH 2N, T=100 °C, t=120 minutes), chemical activation using H3PO4 (30%, 1:3, b/b) and physics (furnace). The results of this research are that RHAC and TSAC activated carbon have the functional groups O-H (str), C-H (str), C≡C, C=C, C-O (str), and C-O-P (str). The surface character of RHAC and TSAC activated carbon is dominated by the elements C, O, and P. The results of the Fe(II) and Cu(II) ion adsorption treatment using RHAC and TSAC activated carbon follow PSO kinetic modeling with R2 values of 0.9221 and 0.9565 on RHAC and 0.9915 and 0.97 on TSAC. TSAC-activated carbon more selectively adsorbs Fe(II) and Cu(II) ions compared to RHAC-activated carbon with adsorption percentages reaching 97.34% and 87.82%, respectively.

Pemanfaatan Limbah Daun Jati Kering dan Serbuk Gergaji Kayu sebagai Bahan Baku Arang Briket di Desa Bubulan

The Bubulan Village has rich natural resources, one of which is high-quality teak trees contributing to the productivity of teak trees in Bojonegoro Regency. Despite its advantages, teak trees in Bubulan Village hold the potential for economically valuable waste, namely teak leaf waste accumulating in the forest area. Additionally, Bubulan Village is home to wooden furniture craftsmen, and every production process generates wood sawdust waste.This community service aims to empower the people of Bubulan Village in managing this waste through training on the utilization of dried teak leaf waste and wood sawdust as raw materials for charcoal briquettes. The service method begins with partner surveys, followed by reference studies and a simulation of the charcoal-making process by the team. Subsequently, tools for making charcoal briquettes (including the creation of a charcoal stove) are procured. The activities continue with outreach to showcase the potential of Bubulan Village, followed by training on the utilization of teak leaf waste and wood sawdust as raw materials for charcoal briquettes.Representatives from the youth organization (karang taruna), village officials, and 20 residents of Bubulan Village attended this community service. The outcomes of this service include an increase in participants' knowledge about charcoal briquettes made from dried teak leaves and wood sawdust by 49%. The designed and made charcoal stove by the service team functions well. Briquettes made from dried teak leaves ignite more easily but have a shorter burning duration compared to briquettes made from wood sawdust. Further testing is needed to determine the calorific value, ash content, and moisture content of these briquettes, as well as additional tests on the efficiency of the charcoal stove.Written in English with a distance between sentences of 1 space and the number of words between 150-250. The abstract should contain introductions, methods, results and discussions and conclusions (without citation). Avoid using citations in the abstract.

Integrated Project Based Learning (PjBL) with STEM and Field Study in Elemental Chemistry Learning

This research investigates the effectiveness of a project-based learning (PjBL) model integrated with Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) in enhancing students critical thinking and field study skills in Elemental Chemistry. The study aims to assess how this integrated approach influences student learning activities, including engagement with scientific literature, teamwork, cognitive skills enhancement, and the development of teaching materials for independent discovery. A mixed-methods approach was used, combining statistical analysis of quantitative data with qualitative insights from observation sheets, interviews, and student worksheets. The curriculum included soft skill training in sampling teak sawdust (Tectona grandis) and synthesizing oxalic acid, Ca, Ba, and Mg-oxalic compounds in the lab. Results showed significant improvement in student grades in the Elemental Chemistry course, with average scores in the good category ranging from 71.05% to 79.55%, indicating the PjBL model is effective. Furthermore, the development of an Elemental Chemistry learning kit specifically designed for the PjBL approach effectively enhanced student thinking skills, as evidenced by their achievements in STEM-related tasks, highlighting the potential of integrated learning method in improving educational outcomes in higher education chemistry courses.

The Effect of Carbonisation Heating Rates on the Properties of N-Doped Teak Sawdust Waste Activated Carbon

Biomass can be utilised in place of non-renewable raw resources like coal and petroleum residue in the production of activated carbon. Each biomass, however, requires different manufacturing process parameters to obtain the desired activated carbon characteristics due to their different chemical compositions. This study aims to examine the effects of carbonisation heating rates (8°C/min, 10°C/min and 12°C/min) on the characteristics of teak sawdust-derived activated carbon. Furthermore, finding the proper carbonisation heating rate to provide the optimum characteristics is the originality of this study. Activation was carried out at a temperature of 600°C, and simultaneously, 200 mL/min of nitrogen was doped. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and adsorption isotherm tests were performed as part of the characterisation. The results revealed that activated carbon carbonised at a rate of 10°C/min produced the best properties. This activated carbon contained 10.8% moisture, 15.26% volatile, 1.73% ash and 72.43% fixed carbon. The majority of the structure is mesopore, with an average pore diameter of 2.43 nm, a pore volume of 0.369 cm3 /g and a specific surface area of 409.698 m2 /g. Its ability to adsorb nitrogen was 239.102 cm3 /g. The successful production of activated carbon from biomass waste derived from teak sawdust offers hope for untapped sawdust waste and has the potential to be used in a number of applications that need adsorption mechanisms.

Biomass pyrolysis oil/diesel blends for a small agricultural engine

The present study reports on an investigation of teak sawdust pyrolysis oil blended with commercial diesel in a small four-stroke compression ignited engine. The engine performance and emissions were evaluated. The teak sawdust pyrolysis oil was obtained from a single-stage fixed bed pyrolysis reactor at 600 °C. Its physicochemical properties were characterized and found to be acceptable for the engine. Teak sawdust pyrolysis oil blends with diesel at the ratios of 10%, 25%, and 50% by mass were utilized. The small engine was tested at constant speeds from 800 to 2600 r/min. 25% teak sawdust pyrolysis oil blend at 2000 r/min was found to have better brake thermal efficiency with lower brake-specific fuel consumption compared to the other teak sawdust pyrolysis oil blends. Meanwhile, the highest engine load was obtained at 50% teak sawdust pyrolysis oil blend and 2600 r/min to be 8 kW. Furthermore, the emissions of CO, CO2, and hydrocarbon at 50% teak sawdust pyrolysis oil and 2000 r/min were slightly lower than other teak sawdust pyrolysis oil blends, no NOx detection in tested fuels, moreover, at 2600 speed, the smoke opacities of the fuels show lower than those the others. It was noted that a blend of 25% teak sawdust pyrolysis oil with diesel was suitable for the small engine (at 2000 r/min) in terms of performance and CO, CO2, and NOX emission for sustainability in agriculture and rural areas.

Coconut Shell Charcoal Combination with Teakwood Sawdust (CSC-TS): An Effective Low-Cost Adsorbent for the Removal Cr(VI) Ion on Industrial Waste

The main goals of this study were to develop activated carbon (AC) from coconut shell charcoal (CSC) combination with teakwood sawdust (TS), combination of both on this study was known with (CSC-TS) as a pledging alternative treatment for perilous Cr(VI) metal from industrial waste which investigated with Batch method. Both AC treated differently, coconut shell charcoal prepared with three stages include dehydration with microwave assisted at 373 K for 24 hours, carbonization under 773 K for 1 hour and followed by chemical activation using H3PO4 10% for 24 hours. Meanwhile, teakwood sawdust prepared only with two stages include dehydration and chemical activation without carbonization. Batch adsorption process in this study did with the aqueous solutions and applied on batik industrial waste, the functional groups of CSC-TS was characterized using FTIR, furthermore the determination of some parameters in adsorption such as adsorbent ratio, effect of contact time, and the effectiveness optimum condition on batik industrial waste obtained by AAS. Based on FTIR result, several functional groups such as (OH) were detected. Langmuir and Freundlich models were calculated to find out the fit adsorption isotherms where Langmuir models had the greater coefficient correlation value (R2=0,9976) which represented the best isotherm models. The result showed that the Cr(VI) adsorption process was found to be maximum at GT-2,5 with 100 minutes of contact time. The percentage removal of Cr(VI) in aqueous solutions under optimal conditions respectively were 87 and 99% with the maximum Langmuir capacity adsorption was 1,08 mg g-1. The initial concentration of batik industrial waste on upstream and downstream were 0,593 and 0,779 mg L-1 with the percentage removal of Cr(VI) were respectively 72 and 83%. This batch adsorption study confirmed that the contaminant of Cr(VI) on industrial waste can be decreased by low-cost adsorbent CSC-TS.

Review of types of biomass as a fuel-combustion feedstock and their characteristics

Biomass is organic matter produced through photosynthetic techniques, each within the form of products and waste. Biomass energy sources have several benefits; amongst others, renewable power to provide sustainable energy sources. Biomass resources are all organic materials that can be renewed, including plants and trees specifically for that energy, food crops, agricultural waste, forestry waste and waste, aquatic plants, animal waste, urban waste, and other waste materials. Improvements in agriculture will lead to increased biomass yields, reduced processing charges, and stepped forward environmental best. Biomass material handling systems constitute a considerable share of investment capital and operating costs in bioenergy conversion facilities. The future improvement of biomass utilization for electricity is collectively burning biomass in current coal boilers and introducing high-efficiency blended-cycle gasification systems, mobile gasoline systems, and modular systems. The use of biomass as gas is more environmentally friendly than fossil fuels. Some types of biomass can be used as a fuel with certain characteristics, such as rice husks and sawdust which will be reviewed in this review. Biomass, as a substitute for coal used as fuel for power plants, has almost similar specifications to coal. Where the value of HHV coal is 5217 kcal/kg (adb) while rice husk, teak sawdust, and Ironwood sawdust have HHV values respectively 3380 kcal/kg (adb), 4460 kcal/kg (adb), and 4465 kcal / kg (adb). Other tests conducted are volatile content, fixed carbon, moisture, and dust content.

Pemanfaatan Limbah Serbuk Gergaji Kayu Jati (Tectona grandis) Sebagai Bahan Campuran dalam Pembuatan Paving Block Porous

The growth of development that continues to increase in each region results in reduced water catchment areas, to overcome this it is necessary to create artificial recharge. Artificial infiltration aims to preserve groundwater as a source of life to be maintained, for reasons of beauty many building service users prefer paving blocks as an alternative to pavement covering the ground surface, installations that have gaps on the sides of the paving can transmit water by 30-50% . Paving block is a building material composed of portland cement, aggregate, water, with or without additives but does not reduce the quality of the paving itself. Porous paving blocks are paving blocks made from added materials in the form of biomass waste, one of which is teak wood sawdust. This research was conducted to make porous paving blocks with quality standard D, which are used for parks floor and other uses. The composition of the materials used were cement and sand (1:3), added with teak sawdust in the treatment of P1 as much as 2%, P2 as much as 4%, P3 as much as 6%, and P4 as much as 8% of the total weight of the material 2.5 kg. Based on (SNI 03-0691-1996), paving block sizes have a minimum thickness of 60 mm with a tolerance of ±8%. The porous paving block produced meets SNI standards with side lengths of 100 mm and thicknesses varying between 56 – 72 mm. Paving blocks with quality standard D have a minimum compressive strength value of 8.5 MPa and a maximum water absorption capacity of 10%. The results of this research shown the paving block P1 treatment has an average compressive strength value of 16.05 MPa with an average water absorption capacity of 6.89% which are in paving block type D quality standard range. Keywords: Leachate, Paving Block Porous, Teak Wood Sawdust, Waste.

Converting sawdust to biochar and its mineral content: A preliminary analysis

In Indonesia, soil degradation is occurring. A strategy to improve soil conditions is by applying biochar as a soil amendment. On the other hand, Indonesia is an agricultural country with many types of biomass that can be converted into biochar. Sawdust of mahogany, teak, and sappan wood from the furniture industry is easy to find and has great potential as raw materials for biochar. This study used X-ray fluorescence spectrometry to determine the mineral content of sawdust biochar from mahogany, teak, and sappan wood sawdust, especially the ash fraction. Biochar was created by burning sawdust woods in a furnace at temperatures ranging from 250°C to 350°C. In general, the main mineral (ash fraction) content of wood sawdust biochar was calcium (CaO) at concentrations ranging from 51 to 72%, with sappan sawdust biochar having the highest concentration at 70–72%. The potassium (K2O) concentration ranged from 9–23%, with mahogany sawdust biochar having the highest concentration (23%). The phosphorus (P2O5) content ranged from 2 to 10%, with teak sawdust biochar having the highest concentration at 7–10%. Moreover, teak sawdust contained 15-20% silica, and sappan sawdust biochar contained 6-8% Fe. The mineral content in biochar ash included alkaline cations; if the biochar is applied to the soil, then a mineralization process may occur and the cations could improve pH conditions through a liming mechanism. This result is only general information; further research is required to produce more comprehensive data.

The Natural Composite of Sawdust Teak as a Sound Absorption Materials Using The Resonator Space Method

The development of science and technology has resulted in the increasing use of sophisticated equipment that can produce unwanted sounds, resulting in noise. Acoustic materials are a solution that can reduce noise. This study aims to determine the sound absorption coefficient of a composite of teak sawdust and polyester resin as an environmentally friendly acoustic material. The sample was made in the form of a cylinder using a press of as many as six samples with a comparison of the mass fraction of teak sawdust and the mass fraction of polyester resin, namely sample 1 (30:70), sample 2 (40:60), sample 3 (50:50), sample 4 (60:40), sample 5(70:30), sample 6(80:20). The samples that have been made were tested using a resonance space and sound level meter to measure the value of the sound absorption coefficient (α) at frequencies of 500 Hz, 1000 Hz, 1500 Hz, 2000 Hz, 2500 Hz, and 3000 Hz. The optimal acoustic material sample in sample 1 with a fiber mass fraction of 30% and a sound absorption coefficient of 0.707 at a frequency of 3000 Hz.

Adsorptive removal of multiple organic dyes from wastewater using regenerative microporous carbon: Decisive role of surface-active sites, charge and size of dye molecules

Present work addresses the synthesis of microporous activated carbon (SDAC) by a facile thermochemical conversion of teak sawdust powder. The high surface area (1999 m2 g−1), excellent microporosity (average pore size: 2.62 nm), and turbostratic carbon structure with intertwined graphitic domains make SDAC a highly efficient adsorptive material for the removal of organic pollutants. The spectroscopic analyses (FTIR, Raman, and XPS) and adsorption locator calculations revealed multiple interactions between organic dyes and SDAC adsorbent, i.e., electrostatic, π-π, n-π interactions, and hydrogen linkages. The size, chemical functionalities, aromatic rings, electronegative and heteroatoms in dye molecules, along with the surface-active sites, microstructured and textural features of SDAC adsorbent collectively governed the interaction pathways and adsorption efficiency. The calculated adsorption energy using Monte Carlo-based simulation annealing method signified faster and higher adsorption of malachite green than methylene blue dye at surface-active sites (-COOH, CO, C–OH, and π-electron-rich domains) of SDAC adsorbent, corroborating the experimental results. The batch-mode adsorptive separation results showed remarkably high adsorption efficiency (>99%) for industrial wastewater to remove cationic and anionic dyes together. The SDAC displayed significantly high adsorption of methylene blue dye (625 mg.g-1) with excellent recyclability without measurable loss of adsorption efficiency even after ten cycles. The SDAC fixed-bed column showed a dye removal capacity of 594 mg.g-1 at 90% breakthrough in a continuous-mode process signifying its applicability for a real-time industrial run. The excellent conformity between batch mode and fixed bed continuous column adsorption data, along with higher removal capacity and remarkable recyclability, promise the use of SDAC adsorbent for industrial wastewater treatment to remove multiple organic pollutants.

Effect of Composite Composition on Mechanical Properties of Banana Fiber Composites with Epoxy Matrix for Functional Materials

Technological developments and the influence of globalization have an impact on increasing the need for the amount of material for industry. The many disadvantages of metal materials due to their large mass, difficult manufacturing processes, corrosive properties, and high production costs have resulted in reduced use of metal materials in various products. Nowadays, there are many replacement materials with mechanical properties that can resemble metal materials such as composites. The role of composites is very important in the development of today's industrial world. This study wanted to determine the effect of the composite composition of rias banana fiber and teak sawdust with epoxy resin on the mechanical properties of the composite. The results showed that the comparison of the composition of the composite using rias banana fiber and teak sawdust with an epoxy matrix had an effect on the mechanical properties. Increasing the percentage of resin composition increases the value of the surface hardness of the composite. The highest level of Rockwell hardness with a value of 117 HRB in sample D and the lowest 109 HRB in sample A. While the highest max strength value was produced by sample C with a composition of teak sawdust: rias banana fiber: epoxy is 20% : 40% : 40 %. The conclusion of this research is the more resin composition will increase the composite hardness test value.

Observation of Rayleigh Benard Convection as A Representation of Learning of Natural Phenomenons Through Water Molecular Movement

Research has been carried out with a device to observe the phenomenon of Rayleigh Benard convection, made of a glass box bounded by a lower plate and an upper plate. The bottom plate is hotter than the top plate which functions to heat the horizontal fluid layer from below. This study aims to observe the phenomenon of water molecule movement. The observation medium was water mixed with teak sawdust as a representation of water particles with an average density of mean=0.99 g/cm3. The variation of water thickness (d) used 5 cm and 6 cm with variations in temperature difference (DT) with an average increase of 50°C. Data was collected with a cellphone camera and run with Windows Movie Maker software which has a time accuracy of up to 0.001 seconds. It was observed that an increase in the temperature difference (DT) between the two plates resulted in an increase in the velocity of motion of water particles in convection which is depicted by a v-DT diagram. Due to the difference in temperature (DT) also results in the movement patterns of water molecules, namely laminar and turbulent. The turbulent phase with the Rayleigh number value R~107, indicated that the flow of water particles is getting faster, the direction of the flow of the particles starts to become irregular and sometimes signs of a water vortex appear. At different fluid immersion results in the start of a turbulent phase. The turbulent phase for d=5cm is observed at DT~30°C, and d=6cm at DT~20°C. Furthermore, this RBC phenomenon is used as a representation of learning natural phenomena in air fluids, namely whirlwinds as an event due to differences in temperature and pressure of a fluid

Analisis Komposit Serat Daun Pandan Alas Dan Serbuk Kayu Jati Dengan Resin Polyester Terhadap Kekuatan Tarik Dan Daya Serap Air

Abstract— Pandanus fiber and teak sawdust were waste products that were abundant in availability, but have not been used optimally. Base pandanus fiber and teak sawdust were used as alternative reinforcement for composite materials. The purpose of this study was to test the tensile strength and water absorption of composites reinforced with base pandan fiber and teak sawdust with polyester resin as a matrix. This composite was made by hand lay up technique with variations in the volume fraction of coconut fiber fibers of 10%, 20%, 30%, 30%, 20%, 10% teak sawdust, 60% polyester resin with random fiber orientation, 30 mm fiber length. Composite specimens were cut according to ASTM D 638-01 standards for tensile testing and ASTM D 570 for water absorption tests. The results of this study were tensile strength, strain, modulus of elasticity with optimum strength respectively 30.28 MPa (volume fraction 30%; 10%; 60%), 1.508 mm / mm (volume fraction 10%; 30%; 60%) , 447.46 Mpa (volume fraction 10%; 30%; 60%). Water absorption was 2.07% (volume fraction 10%; 30; 60%).
 

Effect of Biochar on Micronutrient Availability and Uptake Into Leafy Greens in Two Urban Tropical Soils With Contrasting Soil pH

Biochars have been proposed as a novel biotechnology to increase crop yields in acidic soils due to a liming effect. However, the application of biochar to soils with a neutral soil pH is less likely to improve yield. A rise in pH typically increases the availability of macronutrients (e.g., PO43-, NO3-) but biochar is known to immobilize some elements due to a pH increase and adsorption on the biochar surface. Therefore, biochar application may reduce the uptake of important micronutrients (e.g., Cu, Fe, and Zn) into the edible portions of food crops. Before recommending indiscriminate biochar application to tropical soils, an understanding of the potentially negative impacts of biochar application to contrasting soil types should be fully appreciated to prevent unintended consequences. Our aim was to determine the impact of biochar amendment to an acidic soil and a neutral soil on micronutrient availability and uptake into leafy greens. We produced biochars from 3 different organic feedstock materials (corn cobs, rice husk and teak sawdust) and applied these in pot experiments to an acidic tropical soil (pH 4.5) and a neutral tropical soil (pH 6.9) collected from urban farms in Tamale and Kumasi, respectively, in Ghana. We grew leafy greens (Amaranthus, Corchorus, and Lettuce) and measured their growth and the uptake of Cu, Fe, and Zn, alongside supporting measurements of soil pH and micronutrient availability in the soil. We also measured water soluble Cu, Fe, and Zn in the soils amended with biochars pyrolyzed at different temperatures. The corn cobs biochar increased soil pH and considerably increased plant growth in the acidic soil from Tamale. In the neutral soil from Kumasi we found that, while corn cob biochar increased soil pH, rice husk biochar decreased soil pH. Furthermore, corn cob biochar considerably reduced plant growth in the neutral soil. The concentration of micronutrients in the edible portions of leafy greens was not greatly affected by biochar application, but the total uptake (i.e., concentration multiplied by biomass) of micronutrients into leaves was generally increased by biochar application in the acidic (Tamale) soil and application of the corn cob biochar generally decreased total uptake of micronutrients in the neutral (Kumasi) soil. Our results highlight the need for site-specific information on biochar feedstock and soil pH prior to recommending biochar application to tropical urban soils so that the benefits can be optimized and unintended consequences can be prevented.