Influence of heating temperature and holding time on biochars derived from rubber wood sawdust via slow pyrolysis

Biochar samples were produced from rubber wood sawdust (RWSD), which is a by-product from sawmills, via slow pyrolysis. Biochar is a potential additive for agricultural soil as a soil amendment and for agronomics. The approach proposed in the current study considers the effects of heating temperature and holding time on the surface functional groups and morphologies of RWSD-derived biochars. The pyrolysis was performed in a vertical tube furnace heated at 5 degrees C/min from room temperature to maximum heating temperatures of 300 degrees C, 400 degrees C, 500 degrees C and 700 degrees C under nitrogen gas purging at a rate of 30 ml/min. Two sets of biochars were produced with holding times of (i) 1 h and (ii) 3 h. Proximate and ultimate analyses were performed on the raw RWSD using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and carbon-hydrogen-nitrogen (CHN) elemental analysis. The influence of heating temperature and holding time on biochar surface functional groups and porosities was investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, Boehm titration, pH alkalinity, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and SEM with energy-dispersive Xray (SEM-EDX) spectrocopy. The FT-IR spectra indicated the presence of acidic functional groups, such as carboxylic, phenolic and lactonic groups, and these groups were quantified by Boehm titration. The number of acidic functional groups decreased as the heating temperature and holding time increased. The maximum amount of acidic functional groups was determined to be 1.9 mmol/g at 300 degrees C for a 1-h holding time compared to 1.3 mmol/g for a 3-h holding time and 1.0 mmol/g with a 1-h holding time at 700 degrees C. All of the biochars produced at heating temperatures above 400 degrees C were alkaline, and the pH value increased as the heating temperature and holding time increased. The biochar produced at 300 degrees C with a 1-h holding time had a pH of 6.72 and the sample produced with a 3-h holding time had a pH of 7.67. In addition, the sample produced when the temperature was increased to 700 degrees C with a 1-h holding time had a pH of 11.44. The BET surface area analysis reported maximum values of 5.49 m(2)/g, and the total pore volume was 0.0097 cm(3)/g at a heating temperature of 700 degrees C with a 3-h holding time. SEM micrographs clearly showed the development of well-defined pores in the biochars, and the SEM-EDX spectra indicated localised carbon and oxygen content in all the samples. The results indicated that biochars produced from RWSD are potentially beneficial as soil amendments. However, an extensive study of biochar sustainability is worth investigating. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.