Title:
Valorisation of Brazilian's Agribusiness Residues: Establishing a Circular Value Chain via the Production of Biochar
Author(s):
Kappler, G., Moraes, C.A.M., da Cruz Tarelho, L.A., de Souza, D.M., Modolo, R.C.E., Brehm, F.A., Cúria, A., Hauschild, T.
Document(s):
Paper
Poster
Abstract:
Intensive farming is responsible for several environmental impacts including soil and water contamination from pesticides and chemical fertilizers, soil depletion, GHGs emissions and loss of biodiversity [1]. Additionally, it generates many crop residues which are still underutilized in Brazil [2]. As an example, Brazil produces about 12 million tons of rice, 1.8 million tons of coconut, and 600 million tons of sugarcane per year, of which, about 21%, 57%, and 27%, respectively, become agricultural residues. Together with residual forest biomass, such as pruning, twigs, and sawdust, these types of biomass can be converted into biomass derived products, among them biochar, that can have several environmental applications. Biochar can be produced from plant-based raw materials through the slow pyrolysis process, and it has been argued that it can be used to improve soil fertility [3], benefit soil microorganisms [4], store CO2 [5] and act as an adsorbent for water filtration and air cleaning [6], among several other cascading uses [7]. The conversion of agricultural residues into biochar through pyrolysis process is a more efficient way of breaking down the organic components (e.g., lignin, cellulose and hemicellulose) of biomass when compared to biochemical decomposition. In this sense, pyrolysis can convert residual biomass into a product, the biochar, with a range of applications. Despite Brazil being a major producer of wood charcoal, there are only a few studies available on biochar production, characterization, and application. Thus, the data on the valorization of Brazilian agro-residues into biochar is still scarce. In this work, the conversion of three Brazilian crop residues into biochar, i.e., rice husk, coconut shell, and sugarcane bagasse, via slow pyrolysis is analyzed. Some preliminary data of biochar yield under distinct pyrolysis conditions are presented, together with an analysis of biochar characteristics in the cascading uses in environmental applications.
Keywords:
biochar, agriculture residues, slow pyrolysis, nutrient cycling
Topic:
Bioenergy Integration in Energy Systems
Subtopic:
Resource efficient bioeconomy
Event:
27th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
Session:
5BV.3.21
Pages:
1824 - 1831
ISBN:
978-88-89407-19-6
Paper DOI:
10.5071/27thEUBCE2019-5BV.3.21
Price:
FREE
