Energy Sources Part A-recovery Utilization and Environmental Effects, Vol.34, No.5-8, 746-755, 2012
The Potential Applications of the Bio-char Derived from the Pyrolysis of an Agro-industrial Waste. Effects of Temperature and Acid-pretreatment
The bio-char arising from slow pyrolysis of raw agricultural wastes from sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) at two different temperatures (600 and 800 C) is characterized. According to international standards, the bio-char derived at both temperatures has potential as a solid bio-fuel for domestic use, whereas only the biochar produced at 800 C might be employed for industrial targets. Textural characterization also points to the potential use of the latter as an inexpensive rough adsorbent or soil amender Besides, acid-pretreatment of the wastes subjected to pyrolysis at 600 C promotes an enhanced yield of the bio-char with a well-developed porous structure. Its effectiveness in removing synthetic melanoidin from a dilute solution, as a model of molasses wastewater from the sugar industry and related factories generating environmental pollution, is comparable to that of a commercial activated carbon used for comparison.