New applications of X-ray tomography in pyrolysis of biomass: Biochar imaging

Jones, Keith; Ramakrishnan, Girish; Uchimiya, Minori; Orlov, Alexander

doi:10.1021/ef5027604

Title: New applications of X-ray tomography in pyrolysis of biomass: Biochar imaging

Journal Article · Fri Jan 30 00:00:00 EST 2015 · Energy and Fuels

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/ef5027604· OSTI ID:1188266

Jones, Keith ^[1]; Ramakrishnan, Girish ^[2]; Uchimiya, Minori ^[3]; Orlov, Alexander ^[2]

State Univ. of New York, Stony Brook, NY (United States); Brookhaven National Lab. (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)
State Univ. of New York, Stony Brook, NY (United States)
USDA-ARS Southern Regional Research Center, New Orleans, LA (United States)

We report on the first ever use of non-destructive micrometer-scale synchrotron-computed microtomography (CMT) for biochar material characterization as a function of pyrolysis temperature. This innovative approach demonstrated an increase in micron-sized marcropore fraction of the Cotton Hull (CH) sample, resulting in up to 29% sample porosity. We have also found that initial porosity development occurred at low temperatures (below 350°C) of pyrolysis, consistent with chemical composition of CH. This innovative technique can be highly complementary to traditional BET measurements, considering that Barrett–Joyner–Halenda (BJH) analysis of pore size distribution cannot detect these macropores. Such information can be of substantial relevance to environmental applications, given that water retention by biochars added to soils is controlled by macropore characteristic among the other factors. In addition, complementing our data with SEM, EDX, and XRF characterization techniques allowed us to develop a better understanding of evolution of biochar properties during its production, such presence of metals and initial morphological features of biochar before pyrolysis. These results have significant implications for using biochar as a soil additive and for clarifying the mechanisms of biofuel production by pyrolysis.

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Research Organization:: Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Science (SC)

Grant/Contract Number:: SC00112704

OSTI ID:: 1188266

Report Number(s):: BNL-108100-2015-JA; R&D Project: 02155/02158; YN0100000

Journal Information:: Energy and Fuels, Vol. 29, Issue 3; ISSN 0887-0624

Publisher:: American Chemical Society (ACS)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Cited by: 29 works

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Pore structure and environmental serves of biochars derived from different feedstocks and pyrolysis conditions Lu, Shenggao; Zong, Yutong Environmental Science and Pollution Research, Vol. 25, Issue 30 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-3018-7	journal	August 2018
Upgrading lignocellulosic waste to fuel by torrefaction: Characterisation and process optimization by response surface methodology Kutlu, Ozben; Kocar, Gunnur International Journal of Energy Research, Vol. 42, Issue 15 https://doi.org/10.1002/er.4228	journal	October 2018
Sulfur-Enriched Bone Char as Alternative P Fertilizer: Spectroscopic, Wet Chemical, and Yield Response Evaluation Zimmer, Dana; Panten, Kerstin; Frank, Marcus Agriculture, Vol. 9, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture9010021	journal	January 2019
Fertilizer and soil conditioner value of broiler manure biochars Keskinen, Riikka; Hyväluoma, Jari; Sohlo, Lauri Biochar, Vol. 1, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1007/s42773-019-00020-7	journal	August 2019

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54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
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microtomography
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