Volume 28: Closing Carbon Cycles – A Transformation Process Involving Technology, Economy, and Society: Part III

Fertiliser-catalysed suppression of the pyrolytic temperature for synthesis of nutrient-enriched biochar Brendon Trollip, Dr. Ryan David Merckel

Abstract

The catalytic suppression of the pyrolytic onset temperature of Eucalyptus grandis using three fertilising agents is presented. K2CO3 and K3PO4 successfully decreased the onset temperature with a maximum suppression of -71 °C (10.2 % K2CO3) and -49 °C (10.5 % K3PO4). Higher loadings may achieve a maximum temperature suppression of ΔT(K2CO3)= – 94 °C and ΔT(K3PO4)=-55 °C. This implies that substantial energy savings for the synthesis of biochar via pyrolysis are to be expected as a result of this considerable temperature suppression. BET surface area, porosity and ion exchange capacity may have also been enhanced in-situ but is yet to be evaluated.

Keywords Catalytic pyrolysis, biochar, TGA, K2CO3, K3PO4, Ca(NO3 )2 · 4H2O