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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 …

Value Added Products From Nonconventional Agricultural Biomass Waste Through Thermochemical Transformation, Nicolas A. Sarmiento

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The alteration of temperature patterns around the world has become noticeable in the recent decade. Sea level rise, wildfires, and high temperatures have made people realize that climate change is affecting humans more tangibly than ever. Therefore, the United Nations have pushed to make policies to mitigate this problematic situation. This research investigated the production of biochar from agricultural waste through pyrolysis for fighting climate change and adding value to waste. Experiments in a laboratory scale reactor were conducted to obtain yields of pyrolytic products. Then, analysis of products provided data for characterization and the LCA of the tomato plant …

Enhancement Of Energy Efficiency For Thermal Energy And Biomass Driven Applications, Osama Mansour Selim Elsayed

Theses and Dissertations

The importance of gas turbine blades is to convert the thermal energy into shaft work output, which makes the turbine blades are one of the critical components of the gas turbines. Besides the mechanical stresses caused by the centrifugal force and the fluid forces, the thermal stresses arise because of the temperature gradient within the blade materials. This paper aims to have a uniform circumferential temperature field at the combustor exit, consequently reducing the thermal stresses caused by the non-uniform temperature distribution along the turbine blade. The validation of the simulation results with the experiments showed an acceptable agreement with …

Co2 Adsorption Using Mg-Mof-74/Activated Biochar Composites Produced From The Pyrolysis Of Lignocellulosic Biomass, Conner Brosdan Pope

Masters Theses

Adsorption is a promising carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology with porous solids like activated biochar (AB), graphene oxides (GO), and metal-organic frameworks (MOF) exhibiting different advantages related to separating carbon dioxide (CO₂) from gas mixtures. Accordingly, the synthesis of MOF/GO composites demonstrates synergism between CO₂ adsorption-driving physicochemical characteristics of MOFs and GOs. However, the synthesis of MOF/AB composites has not been explored in the literature to date even though AB shares many physical and chemical similarities with GO. This research project aimed to synthesize MOF/AB composites with appropriate physicochemical characteristics and CO₂ adsorption capacities for …

Characterization Of Biochar Produced By Pyrolysis Of Biomass And Co-Pyrolysis Of Biomass And Agricultural Mulch Film, Ibrahim Cisse

Theses

Agricultural wastes can be valuable materials because they are generated in large quantities all over the world and contain a variety of feedstocks. These feedstocks include dairy manure, food wastes, solid wastes and plastics. Current waste management techniques include landfilling and incineration, both leading to an increase in greenhouse gas emissions. However, alternative methods such as pyrolysis can present more sustainable pathways by transforming mixed wastes from the agricultural sector into value-added products such as biochar, bio-oil and syngas. Limited published literature has focused on producing biochar derived from co-pyrolysis of agricultural wastes with plastic wastes such as agricultural mulch …

Coal Pyrolysis Models For Use In Massively Parallel Oxyfuel-Fired Boiler Simulations, Andrew Perry Richards

Theses and Dissertations

Accurately modeling key aspects of coal combustion allows for the virtual testing and application of new technologies and processes without the need for investments in lab- and pilot-scale facilities, since such facilities may only be used for a few small tests. However, modeling of subprocesses must not only be accurate but computationally efficient. Modeling of coal devolatilization reactions and processes are one of the important parts of large-scale simulations of coal combustion systems. The work presented here details efforts to improve the modeling of coal devolatilization processes in massively-parallel simulations of coal combustors, including: (1) devolatilization rate/yield models, (2) modeling …

Slow Pyrolysis Of Vomitoxin-Contaminated Corn In A Batch Reactor, Shokooh Karami

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Maize is one of the most important agricultural products in terms of production, consumption, and economic importance. However, its contamination with mycotoxins, particularly deoxynivalenol (DON), frequently occurs around the world due to high humidity. This mycotoxin appears predominantly in grains associated primarily with pathogens such as Fusarium graminearum (Gibberella zeae) or Fusarium culmorum. This phenomenon, threatening both human and animal health, also affects the economy due to the disposal of large amounts of contaminated corn. The overall objectives of this study were to use thermochemical conversions (i.e. pyrolysis) for managing this seasonal waste by converting it into value-added …

Evaluación De Los Residuos De Sacha Inchi Tratados Mediante El Proceso De Pirólisis Como Medio Filtrante Para La Remoción De Cromo En Aguas Potenciadas, Luisa Fernanda Cárdenas Beltrán, Mónica Tatiana Ramón Uyabán

Ingeniería Ambiental y Sanitaria

Actualmente, la mayoría de las fuentes hídricas en Colombia presentan altos niveles de cromo hexavalente, el cual se genera debido a acciones antropogénicas como vertimientos de industriales textiles, curtiembres de cueros y galvanoplastia, entre otras. Muchas de estas industrias vierten sus aguas sin ser tratadas previamente, generando problemáticas tanto ambientales como de salud pública, debido a que el cromo en su estado hexavalente es altamente toxico; además, su alto potencial de bioacumulación en plantas y animales produce toxicidad en el agua, fauna, flora y suelo (Téllez & Carvajal, 2004). En este contexto se han venido buscando soluciones sostenibles que permitan …

Development Of Technologies For High Value Products From Biomass Pyrolysis, Chiara Barbiero

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex. Steud. is an invasive perennial grass found in North America, which is rapidly spreading throughout Ontario, damaging the native ecosystem and endangering the wildlife. This infestation has caused a decrease in biodiversity and nutrient availability to the agricultural crops through competition. One of the most effective management practices is spading them, leaving a huge number of dead stalks that need to be disposed of. Pyrolysis was selected as an alternative thermochemical method to convert this feedstock to value-added bioproducts, such as bio-oil and biochar, and to produce valuable renewable chemicals from the pyrolysis oil, such …

Application Of Biochar As An Additive To Enhance Biomethane Potential In Anaerobic Digestion, Cecilia B. Frias Flores

Theses

Energy and useful materials can be produced by applying biological and thermal conversion processes such as anaerobic digestion and pyrolysis. Agricultural and industrial wastes seem to be the most attractive substrates since they are essentially unlimited resources. Pyrolysis has been used mostly for the conversion of biomass to bio-crude and biochar, a stable form of nearly pure carbon that has application in many agricultural and environmental applications. There is a widespread literature describing use of biochar as an additive to stabilize the anaerobic digestion process. We studied the effects that biochar has on the biomethane potential (BMP) during anaerobic digestion …

Synthesis Of Nanotemplated, Glucose-Derived Adsorbents For The Removal Of Organic And Inorganic Pollutants From Water, Luis Alfonso Barrera

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

With an ever-present rise in population, along with an increase in industrial and manufacturing plants, contamination of potable water has become a global concern. While water treatment facilities exist which can help with the purification of water from bacterial and organic contaminants, these facilities are expensive to set in place and maintain. Therefore, in impoverished areas, point of use (POU) purification systems are often preferred, such as filters made from activated carbon. These filters are inexpensive and relatively easy to install and use. However, while activated carbons generally display excellent adsorption capabilities towards organic contaminants, their adsorption towards inorganic pollutants …

Rotating Heater Pyrolyzer (Rhp): A New Pyrolysis Technology For Biochar Production, Ariel Porat

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Biochar provides an effective and inexpensive carbon sequestration technology to combat climate change. It is formed through a process known as pyrolysis; where biomass is thermally decomposed in the absence of oxygen. In this study, a new pyrolysis reactor called the Rotating Heater Pyrolyzer (RHP) was designed and built for biochar production. RHP derived biochar properties were compared to biochars produced with a standard batch pyrolysis reactor (Pyrolytic Shaker Reactor (PSR)) to determine RHP performance. Using several biochar characterization techniques, the soil amendment potential of two solid anaerobic digestate feedstocks were investigated. Woodchip RHP derived biochar processed between 2-3 hrs …

Pyrolysis Of Miscanthus And Products Characterization, Arshdeep Singh

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Miscanthus, an invasive crop, has recently gained attention as an emerging energy crop because of certain features such as adaptability to lower temperature, efficient use of water and nutrients, low or no need of nitrogen fertilizers, high biomass yield, fast growing cycle and less intensive agricultural cultivation practices than other energy crops, such as corn.

The literature review is focused on the value-added applications and conversion of Miscanthus for bioenergy and biomaterial applications. The thermochemical conversion technologies reviewed in this chapter include pyrolysis, liquefaction, torrefaction and gasification, whereas biochemical conversion technologies include enzymatic saccharification and fermentation.

In this work, …

Lignin-Derived Carbon And Nanocomposite Materials For Energy Storage Applications, Wenqi Li

Theses and Dissertations--Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

With a growing demand for electrical energy storage materials, lignin-derived carbon materials have received increasing attention in recent years. As a highly abundant renewable carbon source, lignin can be converted to a variety of advanced carbon materials with tailorable chemical, structural, mechanical and electrochemical properties through thermochemical conversion (e.g. pyrolysis). However, the non-uniformity in lignin structure, composition, inter-unit linkages and reactivity of diverse lignin sources greatly influence lignin fractionation from plant biomass, the pyrolysis chemistry, and property of the resulting carbon materials.

To introduce a better use of lignocellulosic biomass to biofuels and co-products, it is necessary to find novel …

Anaerobic Digestion Of Aqueous Pyrolysis Condensate, Connie Wen

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Lignocellulosic material can be subjected to pyrolysis to yield pyrolysis liquid, biochar, and gas. The pyrolysis liquid resulting from the condensation of vapours can be separated into a rich organic condensate and an acidic “aqueous pyrolysis condensate” (APC) which may be considered a waste. The target of this research is subjecting APC to anaerobic digestion to produce biogas that can be energy purposed, and to reduce the organic load of APC to acceptable levels for possible disposal. From this study, it was found that without any treatment, the inoculum requires 50 to 60 days of adaptation period to reduce the …

Pyrolysis As An Economical And Ecological Treatment Option For Solid Anaerobic Digestate And Municipal Sewage Sludge, Devon J. Barry

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The aim of this thesis was to investigate the potential for pyrolysis of solid anaerobic digestate and municipal sewage sludge. Slow, fast, and autothermal pyrolysis experiments were conducted for the anaerobic digestate while slow and fast pyrolysis experiments were carried out for the sewage sludge. Pyrolysis temperatures ranged from 250 to 550 ᵒC. The effect of pyrolysis conditions on the pyrolysis products was examined.

Fast pyrolysis at higher temperatures was favourable for energy recovery in the bio-oil products. Slow pyrolysis was favourable for the biochar products. Lower pyrolysis temperatures favoured energy recovery in the biochar; while higher temperatures increased biochar …

The Production Of Pyrolytic Biochar For Addition In Value-Added Composite Material, Douglas Matthew Cuthbertson

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Pyrolytic biochar has recently gained attention for its potential value as a carbon sequestering by-product that can be used in industrial applications. While biochar is typically targeted for soil amendment applications, higher value applications such as addition in consumer products and building materials needs to be investigated.

In this study, biochar is produced from three different Canadian feedstocks using three different pyrolysis methods. The biochar is characterized to determine the effects that feedstock selection and pyrolysis conditions has on biochar properties. The biochar is also incorporated into concrete at varying concentrations to create a lightweight and sustainable material. The effect …

Renewable Fuels Produced From Biomass Pyrolysis Vapors: Catalysis And Reaction Engineering, David Pierce Gamliel

Doctoral Dissertations

At present, lignocellulosic biomass is the only renewable and available resource capable of supplanting fossil fuel resources. Fast pyrolysis is the conversion of biomass at elevated temperature, high heating rate and under inert atmosphere to produce bio-oil. This bio-oil is a blend of oxygenated hydrocarbons, which must be upgraded prior to use as a transportation fuel. The focus of this thesis is the investigation of bio-oil upgrading reaction pathways and catalysts for the production of biofuels.

There are two primary pathways for pyrolysis vapor upgrading: catalytic cracking and hydrodeoxygenation (HDO). During catalytic cracking, pyrolysis vapors react over the acid sites …

Pyrolysis Of Fiber-Plastic Waste Blends, Shreyas Kolapkar

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

The main objective of this work is to investigate fast pyrolysis of fiber and plastic feedstocks in order to understand the synergistic effect from their co-pyrolysis. In this on-going work, fiber, plastic and their blend are characterized and pyrolysis oil is produced from them in the fast batch pyrolysis reactor. Based on a heat transfer model it is shown that results of oil produced from batch reactor will be applicable to the continuous paddle reactor. From feedstock characterization, chlorine was observed particularly in the plastic feedstock. Thus, chlorine removal method using torrefaction and high shear mixing was implemented and was …

Characteristics Of Activated Carbons Produced From Herbaceous Biomass Feedstock, Oluwatosin Jerry Oginni

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Energy security and environmental protection are at the forefront of research due to the forecasted depletion of fossil fuel reserves and the growing concern of its adverse environmental impacts. The use of renewable sources for energy applications has centered on the use of biomass feedstocks and this include from herbaceous, woody, agricultural waste, forest residues and municipal wastes. The thermochemical conversion (pyrolysis) of these biomass feedstocks has potential to produce liquid fuel, a solid residue (biochar) and non-condensable gas. The biochar is primarily composed of renewable porous carbon and other inorganic compounds. The biochar is used for soil amendment, adsorption …

Hydrodeoxygenation Of Anisole In A Novel Externally Agitated Reactor, Brett Pomeroy

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Bio-oil upgrading via hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) was investigated using anisole, a model compound, in a novel Externally Agitated (EA) reactor which is expected to enhance gas-liquid-solid mixing. Operating conditions were established based on anisole HDO with 10 wt.% Ni on silica, γ-alumina, and δ-alumina while varying temperatures between 160 to 280^oC, and reaction times between 30 – 90 minutes. Mild temperatures of 220^oC and 45 minutes for reaction time with γ-alumina were selected for subsequent work since γ-alumina demonstrated the highest HDO activity. HDO was then investigated with varying Ni-Cu and Ni loadings. Despite the improved reducibility …

Investigation Of Pyrolysis And Electrokinetics As Remediation Techniques For The Treatment Of Cca-Treated Wood Waste, Amy Marie Parker

Theses and Dissertations

Increasing volumes of Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA) treated wood materials are being removed from service, either as a result of reaching the end of their service life or being replaced with non-treated wood materials. These materials, while not regulated as hazardous wastes, have the potential to leach toxic metals into the environment. Incineration and landfilling are not ideal disposal methods as incineration could result in the volatilization of carcinogenic arsenic and chromium, while landfilling requires the waste to be sorted and placed in appropriately lined landfills to prevent contaminant release. Viable disposal methods must be considered to manage the significant …

Managing Exoelectrogenic Microbial Community Development Through Bioprocess Control For Conversion Of Biomass-Derived Streams, Alex James Lewis

Doctoral Dissertations

Bioelectrochemical systems are an emerging technology capable of utilizing aqueous waste streams generated during biomass conversion of lignocellulosic feedstocks to produce valuable co-products and thus, have potential to be integrated into biorefineries. In a microbial electrolysis cell, organic compounds are converted to electrons, protons, and CO₂ by fermentative and exoelectrogenic bacteria in the anode compartment. By having the ability to extract electrons from waste streams, these systems can treat water while also producing hydrogen, and thus can improve the efficiency of biomass to fuel production by minimizing external hydrogen requirement and enabling water recycle. The overall goal of this …

Pine Needle Pyrolysis: Bio-Waste Into Biofuel, Alexandra Fuentes

Honors Theses

This project explores the alternate uses of biomass. In particular it focuses on pine needles as a source for biofuels. Pine needles are of interest because in certain Mountain communities they are collected and removed from residential properties. By removing the pine needles, communities create a “defensible space” to prevent wild fires from destroying homes and property. These needles are often placed in regional landfills. The South Tahoe Refuse and Recycling Services alone has more than 4,340 tons of pine needles dumped at their facility annually. This large amount of biomass can be a potential energy source.

The focus of …

Lignin Transformation And Characterization Of Pyrolytic Products, Eric Amo Boakye

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Lignocellulosic materials derived from plants have the ability to serve as feedstocks in place of depleting petroleum and coal for production of fuels and chemicals. Lignin forms about 30% of lignocellulosic material, and is the second most abundant non-fossil organic carbon source in the biosphere. However, it is often treated as waste or, in some instances, burned to supply energy. Developing an efficient and environmentally benign method to convert lignin to high value-added aromatic monomers (e.g., guaiacol, vanillin, acetovanillone, and eugenol) for synthesis of polymers is of interest. Mineral bases, such as NaOH and CsOH, or supported-metal catalysts (Pt, Ru, …

Assessing The Use Of Food Waste Biochar As A Biodynamic Plant Fertilizer, Rachel Mazac

Departmental Honors Projects

Biochar is a charcoal-like substance produced from plant material such as food waste. Converting food waste into a useful product would mitigate environmental damage through reduced landfill inputs, reduced greenhouse gas production, and increased benefits to soils. I asked (1) if biochar improved plant growth and (2) if the effects of biochar varied among different samples of mixed food waste (batches) and between different biochar preparation times (treatments). Four independent batches of biochar were prepared with assorted, uncooked food waste collected from a university dining facility. Each batch was dried then placed in a covered ceramic pot at 260℃ for …

Biomass Catalytic Upconversion With A Metallic Catalyst Bed Under Radio Frequency Induction Heating, Mohammad Abu-Laban

LSU Master's Theses

This study investigated the thermal performances of platinum particles when coupled on a steel support, under the application of a radio frequency (RF) field. Platinum nanoparticles were reduced on the surfaces of type-316 stainless steel balls, based on published methods of Pt reduction from chloroplatinic acid. Alternatively, 1wt. % Pt/Al2O3 commercial catalyst pellets were mixed with stainless steel balls and investigated for hydro-deoxygenation of pyrolysis oil from pine sawdust biomass. The catalysts were placed inside an electric insulator tube suspended within a looping copper coil connected to the induction heater, and heated at different power levels. An infrared camera was …

Targeted Products From Fast-Hydropyrolysis And Hydrodeoxygenation Of Biomass, Ian Tad Smith

Open Access Theses

Previously, the H2Bioil process was proposed as a possible way to convert sustainably available intact biomass into liquid fuels. The optimization of this process and possible synergies with other biomass conversion processes are presented in this thesis.

The selectivity of the PtMo hydrodeoxygenation catalyst was tuned using two different hydrogen partial pressures: 25 bar, and 2.5 bar. This effect was studied on cellulose and intact biomass samples to determine the effect that hydrogen has upon the retention of aromatic compounds found in intact biomass. These experiments show that it is possible for the hydrogenation activity of the PtMo catalyst to …

Pyrolysis Based Biorefineries For The Production Of Fermentable Substrates, Luis Carlos Luque-Moreno

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Fast pyrolysis is rapid thermal conversion process capable of transforming multiple feedstocks into various energy carriers, specifically pyrolysis oil, bio gas, and bio char. The oil phase is of high value due to its complex mixtures of organic molecules, along with large number of anhydrous carbohydrates, which can be easily transformed into glucose via acid hydrolysis. These carbohydrates can be either biocatalyzed into fuels and chemicals by microorganisms or converted after further treatment steps. However quantities of these carbohydrates in the oil are a function of feedstock composition and process parameters. The research presented in this thesis focuses on producing …

Production Of Activated Carbons From Pyrolytic Char For Environmental Applications, Anastasia Colomba

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Biomass pyrolysis has the potential to become a major component of future biorefineries, since biomass is cracked to produce gases, liquid products (bio-oil) and solid products (bio-char). In order for the process to be economically feasible, it is necessary to obtain the maximum value from each stream, thus no by-product can be regarded as a waste.

Bio-char is normally regarded as a by-product of fast pyrolysis, which is optimized to target bio-oil production. However, there are many potentially attractive applications for it: for example, it can be used for the production of activated carbons, which are the most commonly used …