Effect of self-purging pyrolysis on yield of biochar from maize cobs, husks and leaves

Publication Type

Journal contribution (peer reviewed)

Authors

Intani, K; Latif, S; Rafayatul Kabir, A.K.M.; Müller, J

Year of publication

2016

Published in

Bioresource Technology

Band/Volume

218/

Page (from - to)

541-551

Keywords

Biochar, maize residues, response surface methodology, Self-purging, Slow-pyrolysis

In this study, biochar was produced from maize residues (cobs, husks, leaves) in a lab-scale pyrolysis reactor without using a purging gas. The physicochemical properties of biomass and biochar were analysed. Box–Behnken design was used to optimise operational conditions for biochar yields. Multivariate correlations of biochar yields were established using reduced quadratic models with R2 = 0.9949, 0.9801 and 0.9876 for cobs, husks and leaves, respectively. Biochar yields were negatively correlated with the temperature, which was significantly influenced by the exothermic reactions during the pyrolysis of maize residues. The heating rate was found to have the least effect on biochar yields. Under optimal conditions, the maximum biochar yields from cobs, husks and leaves were 33.42, 30.69 and 37.91%, respectively. The highest biochar yield from maize leaves was obtained at a temperature of 300 °C, a heating rate of 15 °C/min and a holding time of 30 min.