Producción y caracterización de biocarbones obtenidos a partir de residuos agropecuarios

Abstract

Ecuador has a constantly growing agricultural sector, which leads to an increase of its residues and complicates its management. Therefore, this work studied the production and characterization of biochar from corn stalk, rice husk and shrimp shell wastes to determine its potential applications in the solution of current problems. Four biochars were obtained under different pyrolysis conditions: two from shrimp shell at 600oC and 350oC, one from corn stalk at 600oC and one from rice husk at 350oC with production yields of 29.4%, 45.0%, 23.3% and 35.4%, respectively. Their characterization was carried out by analyzing pH, moisture, ash content, surface area, morphology, surface functional groups and hydrophobicity for each type of biochar. It was determined that the increase in pyrolysis temperature in the case of shrimp shell produced an increase in pH, ash content, percentage of carbon, surface area, porosity, C/N ratio and a reduction in the H/C, O/C ratios; while biochar from lignocellulosic biomass maintained the aforementioned tendencies; notwithstanding, the increase in surface area was highlighted. According to the results, it is suggest that the biochars obtained could have a potential use in soil remediation to increase organic matter, increase alkalinity or carbon sequestration; adsorption of heavy metals (Cd2+, Pb2+, As3+, Ni2+, Cu2+ and others) or emerging organic micropollutants (polar or non polar).