2016/02/06 by Xingzhu Ma, Xing-zhu Ma, Bao-ku Zhou +9
Chemistry · Earth and Planetary Sciences · Engineering · #Coal and Its By-products #Thermochemical Biomass Conversion Processes #Zeolite Catalysis and Synthesis
paper · doi:10.1080/00103624.2016.1146742
crossref issued 2016/02/06 · crossref published 2016/02/06 · crossref published-online 2016/02/06 · openalex publication_date 2016/02/06 · crossref created 2016/02/06 · crossref published-print 2016/03/08 · crossref deposited 2020/05/16 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · crossref indexed 2026/08/03 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/04
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.