Abstract

Karanja is a medium sized evergreen tree which has minor economic importance in India. The nonedible seed kernel contains 27–30% oil that is used for biodiesel production, leaving the remaining nonedible seed cake as a waste product. The aim of the present work was to obtain kinetic parameters in relation to technological parameters in nonedible seed cake biomass pyrolysis conversion process to bio-oil and biochar. Effects of heating rate on karanja seed cake slow pyrolysis behavior and kinetic parameters were investigated at heating rates of 5, 10, and 20°C/min using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Thermogravimetric experiments showed the onset and offset temperatures of the devolatilization step shifted toward the high-temperature range, and the activation energy values increased with increasing heating rate. In the present study, isoconversional method was applied for the pyrolysis of karanja seed cake biomass by TGA and the activation energies (118–124 kJ/mol) and the pre-exponential factors obtained using progressive conversion. Proximate–ultimate analyses, energy value, surface structure, and Fourier transform infrared spectra of the biomass processed under conditions were reported. The pyrolysis resulted in upgradation of the energy value of seed cake biomass from 18.1 to 24.5 MJ/kg, importantly with high carbon and low oxygen contents. The approach represents a novel method for the upgrading of karanja seed cake that has significant commercial potential.

Abstract

The main goal of this study was to produce and extensively examine biochar as a potential material for the "em"in-situ"/em" adsorption of typical pollutants carried by the stormwater runoff from the transportation infrastructures. Biochar, a product of controlled pyrolysis of carbon-rich waste material is the best known for its adsorption capacity as typically used for agricultural applications. The individual source of organic waste material, and parameters of pyrolysis, such as duration, temperature, limitation of oxygen, etc., would influence its final properties, which will dictate the overall efficiency of "em"in situ"/em" adsorption.Several waste biomas were used as a starting material.

Abstract

The use of biochar amendments in banana soils has inspired research with the aim of comparing the effects of a biochar obtained from cocoa pods on banana development. The work was carried out on two farms, one under an organic agriculture model (FO) and the other conventional (FC). The doses per treatment in each farm consisted of 10 g (T1), 30 g (T2) and 50 g (T3) of biochar + bioferment with Trichoderma spp.; 100 g of Si2O (FO) and 100 g of urea (FC) were added to this mixture. All treatments were applied to the soil in front of the son. The highest values for plant height were 217.8 cm (FO, T2) and 266.7 cm (FC, T3), in pseudostem thickness the highest means were 41.1 cm (FO, T1) and 52.1 cm (FC, T3), much higher than the control. In bunch weight and number of hands, significant differences (p≤0.05) were obtained in both farms. The results revealed that the treatments had a positive effect on the growth of banana plants compared to the control on both farms.