(536g) Development of a Method to Activate the By-Product (Biochar) of a Highly Porous Adsorption Substance Following Thermal Conversion of Biomass As a Renewable Energy Source

Biochar is a carbon-rich byproduct obtained from the degradation of lignocellulosic biomass as renewable energy sources to synthesis gas and/or liquid fuel by advanced thermal methods. The content of biochar generally contains carbon (%80-85) and other elements such as nitrogen, hydrogen, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, and iron. It is possible to activate biochar by converting it into an efficient form and use it as a high porous adsorbent. The activation of biochar is achieved by increasing the surface area, number, and volume of micro-pores. Therefore, physical and/or chemical activation processes must be applied to obtain active biochar.

The current inability to utilize by-product biochar as an efficient product after the transformation of biomass with advanced thermal methods is a disadvantage in many respects, given the spread of such technologies. Although by-product biochar formed after the advanced thermal transformation of lignocellulosic biomass cannot be used as an adsorbent due to its lack of high surface area, a small amount can be used as a soil regulator and is usually consumed inefficiently in combustion boilers.

The dissertation titled “Production of Active Carbon from Biochar by Biomass Gasification” was examined as a doctoral study. In this study, the gasification of apricot seed and walnut shell biomass was carried out, and then a method and system were created by performing both physically and chemically the activation of the by-product biochar into activated carbon, which is a very valuable adsorbent and consumed a lot. However, studies in the literature have shown that biomass usually intended to be converted into activated carbon undergoes processes that create very high costs, making it uneconomical to apply these methods in industry on large scales.

Postdoctoral research aims to integrate the method created in the doctoral dissertation into advanced biomass thermal conversion processes and produce synthesis gas and/or liquid fuel from lignocellulosic biomass by intensifying the process. In addition, it aims to produce high-porous active biochar and investigate high-porous active biochar production methods in Missouri S&T laboratories.

In this study, the mass loss and surface properties of the produced activated biochar were examined. Subsequent analyses were carried out for materials that were deemed suitable for the use of activated carbon. It was analyzed with FT-IR Spectroscopy, XRF, EDS and SEM analyses were interpreted. Activated carbons, adsorption isotherms were examined depending on temperature, time and concentration. Adsorption equilibrium experimental data were investigated by examining their suitability for Langmuir and Freundlich models. Furthermore, kinetic studies on activated carbons were conducted, and calculations were made in certain models.