Study of Biochar Properties by Scanning Electron Microscope – Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (SEM-EDX). Issue 5 (8th March 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ma, Xingzhu; Zhou, Baoku; Budai, Alice; Jeng, Alhaji; Hao, Xiaoyu; Wei, Dan; Zhang, Yulan; Rasse, Daniel
• Is Part Of: Communications in soil science and plant analysis. Volume 47:Issue 5(2016)
• Page Start: 593
• Page End: 601
• Publication Date: 2016-03-08
• Subjects: Biochar -- carbon content -- morphological analysis -- O/C ratio -- SEM-EDX; Soil science -- Periodicals; Plants -- Chemical analysis -- Periodicals; Agricultural chemistry -- Periodicals; 631.405
• DOI: 10.1080/00103624.2016.1146742
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0010-3624

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Biochar is a carbon-rich solid product obtained by pyrolysis of biomass. Here, we investigated multiple biochars produced under slow pyrolysis (235–800 °C), flash carbonization, and hydrothermal carbonization (HTC), using Scanning Electron Microscope—Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (SEM-EDX) in order to determine whether SEM-EDX can be used as a proxy to characterize biochars effectively. Morphological analysis showed that feedstock has an integrated structure compared to biochar; more pores were generated, and the size became smaller when the temperature increased. Maximum carbon content (max. C) and average carbon content (avg. C) obtained from SEM-EDX exhibited a positive relationship with pyrolysis temperature, with max. C correlating most closely with dry combustion total carbon content. The SEM-EDX O/C ratios displayed a consistent response with the highest treatment temperature (HTT). The study suggests that SEM-EDX produces highly consistent C, oxygen (O), and C/O ratios that deserve further investigation as an operational tool for characterization of biochar products.