engineered biochar: synthesis, characterization ...€¦ · characterization, & potential...

University FloridaEnvironmental Nanotechnology Lab @ ABE

Engineered Biochar: Synthesis, Characterization, & Potential Applications

Bin Gao

Department of Agricultural & Biological Engineering

University of Florida


• A black carbon derived from Thermal Conversion of carbon-rich biomass in an inert atmosphere

• Soil amendment & other environmental applications

Biochar


Low-Cost Adsorbents ?

Biochar costs about $200-500 per ton. Activated carbon costs about $1000-3,000 per ton

Unique physicochemical properties, particularly after further engineering

Low secondary pollution risk and no need for regeneration


Activated Carbon

Physical/Chemical Activation

Air and Water Filtration (Organic Pollutants)

Phosphate & Other Nutrients

Biochar as AC Precursor

Engineered Biochar


Engineered Biochar

Biochar Technology

Bio-& Nanotechnolgy

• Pristine Biochar (PBC)

• Biologically-Activated Biochar (BABC)

• Nano-Engineered Biochar (NEBC)

• Surface Modified Biochar (SMBC) Including Activated Carbon (AC)


Pristine Biochar Woody & Grass Materials

• Wood and grass including invasive species

• Forestry residues

• Sawdust & lumber residues

Agricultural Residuals• Shells, hulls, tailings, and other residuals

• Animal wastes

• Citrus residuals

Solid Waste• Plastics

• Yard trashes

Pyrolysis• Dry (fast, slow, & microwave)

• HTC


Biologically Activated Biochar

Bacterial Digested Biomass Biofuel residuals

Anaerobically digested

Animal/human waste

Bacterial

Digestion

Digested

Biomass


Nano-Engineered Biochar Feedstock treatment (introducing precursors)

Nano metal oxyhydroxides

Graphene, CNT, & other carbon nanomaterials

Biochar modification (nano impregnations) Nano metal oxyhydroxides

Graphene, CNT, & other carbon nanomaterials

Nano Zero Valent Iron (nZVI)

Other engineered/natural colloids/nanoparticles

Bacterial

Digestion


Surface Modified Biochar Surface Activation/Modification

Activated carbon

Oxidization

Coating

Biochar Based Composites Impregnation

Clay minerals, granular iron, & other low-cost adsorbents


Create Engineered Biochars

BABC, NEBC, and SMBC

CharacterizationsPre- and Post- Application

OptimizationOptimization

Low-Cost AdsorbentsEnvironmental Applications

Research Strategy


Kiln

Oil

Engineering

Engineering

Biochar Production


Physicochemical Properties Elemental Composition & Ash Content

Surface Area & Pore Volume

Surface Potential, pH, & Functionality

Thermal Stability

FTIR & Raman, SEM/TEM/AFM, EDX/XRD, XPS

0

20

40

60

80

100

0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700W

eigh

t (%

)Temperature (℃)

BGfeedstock

HBG200

BG300

BG450

BG600

b


Sorption of Heavy Metals

Heavy Metal

Removal Pb Removal

Mechanisms

e.g., Inyang et al., 2010, 2011, 2012; Xu et al. 2013; Ding et al. 2014; Xu et al. 2016

Strong sorption

of cations

Various sorption

mechanisms

PBC & BABC

Ash content &

precipitation

mechanism


Sorption of Organics

e.g., Zhang et al. 2012; Yao et al., 2012; Ding et al. 2013; Fang et al. , 2015, 2016;

Yi et al. 2016

Strong sorption

of organics

Various sorption

mechanisms

PBC & SMBC

(AC)

Surface area

p = 0.000

levofloxacin

methylene blue


Sorption of Nutrients

e.g., Zhang et al. 2012b, 2013a, b, c, 2014; Yao et al., 2011a, b, 2013a, b; Xue et al.

2016

Only engineered

biochar

Surface

charge/potential

Electrostatic

Interactions & Ion

Exachange

NEBC (nanosized

metal oxides, LDH)

Reclaim Nutrients

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

0 50 100 150

So

rbed

Co

ncen

trati

on

(

mg

/g)

Equilibrium Concentration (mg/L)

Phosphate

Data

Freudlich model

Langmuir model

Nonlinear Langmuir model

Doubel Langmuir model

Langmuir Freudlich model

Nitrate

Low Cost

Soil

Improvement

Efficient

No need

regenerate

/dispose


CO2 Capture

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

0 20 40 60 80

Am

ou

t o

f C

O2

Ad

sorb

ed

( m

g g-1

)

Time (minutes)

aBG300

BG450

BG600

Model

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

0 50 100 150

Tem

pe

ratu

re (

oC

)

Am

ou

nt

of

CO

2A

dso

rbe

d (

mg

g-1)

Time (minutes)

CO2 Adsorbed

Temperature


Biofuel Production

Biomass

Fu

el

Residue

Biochar Production

Bio

char

Engineering

Engineered

Biochar

Water Treatment

Clean

Water

Waste

Biochar

Land Application

Carb

on

Cred

it

Waste

Water

Biochar & Sustainability

Biomass

Fu

el

Bin

der

Fer

tiliz

er

Wat

erAgicultural Waste

Energy Crops


Thank You!

engineered biochar: synthesis, characterization ...€¦ · characterization, & potential...

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