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Process Intensification For Rare Earth Elements Adsorption By Resonant Vibratory Mixing, Oluwatosin Adebayo, Richard Ladouceur, Zainab Nasrullah

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

The adsorption capacity for six rare earth elements (Lanthanum, Terbium, Neodymium, Dysprosium, Praseodymium, and Holmium) by biochar produced from hemp feedstock was investigated. An innovative approach to enhancing the adsorption of rare earth elements using biochar was studied and investigates the potential of resonant vibratory mixing (RVM) as a process intensification method compared to conventional mechanical mixing for the adsorption process. Hemp hurds as source of biomass was pyrolyzed to produce biochar at a temperature of 4500C for 60 minutes. The biochar was characterized by FTIR (Fourier Transform Infra-red), SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy), Surpass 3 Electrokinetic solid surface analyzer, and …

A Review On Biochar As An Adsorbent For Pb(Ii) Removal From Water, Pushpita Kumkum, Sandeep Kumar

Civil & Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Heavy metal contamination in drinking water is a growing concern due to its severe health effects on humans. Among the many metals, lead (Pb), which is a toxic and harmful element, has the most widespread global distribution. Pb pollution is a major problem of water pollution in developing countries and nations. The most common sources of lead in drinking water are lead pipes, faucets, and plumbing fixtures. Adsorption is the most efficient method for metal removal, and activated carbon has been used widely in many applications as an effective adsorbent, but its high production costs have created the necessity for …

A Study Of Biochar Production Via Continuous Vacuum-Assisted Pyrolysis, Max Wohlgenant

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

The present study focuses upon the design, fabrication, and feasibility of the bulk production of scientific biochar for mobile delivery. In the 2022 annual report, the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine recommended the integration of mobile, decentralized reactors that employ flexible manufacturing and circular economic principles. Biochar production, involving the thermal degradation of biomass under an inert atmosphere to yield remediation media is an ideal material to satisfy this recommendation. Many potential application sites, such as abandoned mines, are remote and limit the construction of large infrastructure. The continuous vacuum-assisted pyrolysis (CVAP) reactor was designed to: increase biochar …

Investigation Of The Structure, Chemistry And Functional Performance Of Novel Biochars, Julie Elizabeth Muretta

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

Biochars are a class of carbonaceous materials possessing high degrees of structural and chemical disorder in both organic and inorganic constituent phases. Despite this disorder, and in some cases because of this disorder, biochars have shown strong performance in adsorbing and even sequestering contaminants from soil, surface water and air. Biochar is the carbonaceous, solid product of heating carbonaceous feedstock in an oxygen-limited environment above 250°C, usually sourced from inexpensive, locally available agricultural and forestry wastes which can otherwise be difficult and expensive to dispose of. Biochar possesses attractive functional properties like high specific surface area, high micropore volume, and …

Design Of Efficient Carbon-Based Adsorbents For The Removal Of Organic And Inorganic Water Contaminants, Sayedeh Soroosh Mortazavian Dehkordi

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Granular activated carbon (AC) and biochar (BC) are two carbon-based adsorbents commonly used for water and wastewater treatment. However, these adsorbents have drawbacks that suppress their aqueous contaminants removal efficiency. Their major disadvantages are that AC has low selectivity and reusability potential, and BC has a hydrophobic nature.

The scope of this dissertation is to enhance the performance of commonly-used carbon-based adsorbents for the removal of organic and inorganic water contaminants and to understand the interactive mechanism of contaminants’ ions/molecules with adsorbents. Hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) and trichloroethylene (TCE) are two types of inorganic and organic water contaminants, respectively, which are …

Development And Evaluation Of Post-Production Oxygenation Techniques For The Augmentation Of Biochar, Matthew David Huff

Chemistry & Biochemistry Theses & Dissertations

Biochar is the carbon rich solid by-product of biomass pyrolysis. Interest in biochar can be broken down to several main categories: use as a carbon sequestration agent, use as a medium for the removal via adsorption of unwanted materials in wastewater, and as a soil amendment for the increase of cation exchange capacity (CEC). In order to generate a biochar which is stable enough for carbon sequestration, higher temperature pyrolysis must be used in order to ensure a lower O:C ratio in order to increase the half-life of biochar in soil. This dissertation addresses the evaluation of biochars made from …

Agronomic Benefits Of Durian Shell Biochar, N Prakongkep, R J. Gilkes, W Wiriyakitnateekul

Journal of Metals, Materials and Minerals

This study investigated the chemical properties of durian shell biochar which is used as a soil amendment. It can act as a carbon sink and as a means to improve crop yield. Plant nutrient elements in this biochar are in crystalline minerals located within the complex pore structure therefore biochar production from wastes could be a very good way to reduce demand for fertilizers. XRD and SEM-EDS results demonstrate that the numerous minerals in biochar are highly soluble, such as archerite (KH₂PO₄), chlorocalcite (KCaCl₃), kalicinite (KHCO₃), and sylvite (KCl) with small amounts …

Soil Nutrient Availability Properties Of Biochar, Nicole C. Esposito

Master's Theses

Biochar’s high porosity and negative surface charge allows for numerous soil and plant benefits such as increased water retention, high nutrient availability, and plant growth. By analysing biochar’s effect of all of these factors, a system can be put in place in which soils can be remediated with the proper soil amendments. This report discusses and tests the effects of varying rates of biochar on pH levels, cation exchange capacity, and nutrient exchangeability (of calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium) in soil. Corn plants were also grown in soils of varying amendment types and analysed for plant growth and germination to …

The Characterization And Comparison Of Biochar Produced From A Decentralized Reactor Using Forced Air And Natural Draft Pyrolysis, Leah Herbert, Ian Hosek, Rishi Kripalani

Materials Engineering

The soil additive properties of biochar have proven both effective and globally beneficial, but depend heavily on feedstock used and process conditions. This study characterizes how forced and natural draft air flows affect the biochar’s soil amendment potential. Biochars manufactured from two pine species of feedstock, in timber and pellet form, were compared against a designer biochar. The designer biochar held the lowest C:N ratio (57.43), followed by the natural draft pellets (199.5), forced air timber (282.5), forced air pellets (422.7), and natural draft timber (503.7). The designer char had the largest cation exchange capacity at 138.5 cmolc/kg; the decentralized …