Lead sorptive removal using magnetic and nonmagnetic fast pyrolysis energy cane biochars.

Energy cane biochar (ECBC) was prepared in a 72 s fast pyrolysis at 425 °C in an auger-fed reactor and ground into 250-600 μm diameter particles. This biochar was magnetized by fusing an iron oxide phase to the particles by mixing aqueous biochar suspensions with aqueous Fe(3+)/Fe(2+) solutions, followed by NaOH treatment (MECBC). These biochars were characterized by Raman, FT-IR, X-ray, SEM, SEM-EDX, TEM, EDXRF, pHzpc, elemental analyses, S(BET), and magnetic moment determinations.

Modeling and evaluation of chromium remediation from water using low cost bio-char, a green adsorbent.

Oak wood and oak bark chars were obtained from fast pyrolysis in an auger reactor at 400-450 °C. These chars were characterized and utilized for Cr(VI) remediation from water. Batch sorption studies were performed at different temperatures, pH values and solid to liquid ratios.

Characterization of fast pyrolysis bio-oils produced from pretreated pine wood.

The pretreatment of biomass prior to the fast pyrolysis process has been shown to alter the structure and chemical composition of biomass feed stocks leading to a change in the mechanism of biomass thermal decomposition. Pretreatment of feed stocks prior to fast pyrolysis provides an opportunity to produce bio-oils with varied chemical composition and physical properties. This provides the potential to vary bio-oil chemical and physical properties for specific applications.

Bundled slash: a potential new biomass resource for fuels and chemicals.

Postharvest residues for southern pine species have not previously been quantified to compare volumes produced from both thinnings and clearcut volumes. A John Deere 1490 Slash Bundler bundled postharvest residues following a first thinning of a 14-year-old stand, a second thinning of a 25-year-old stand, and a clearcut of a naturally regenerated mature stand of 54 years of age. Regardless of stand type, nearly one-fifth of merchantable volume harvested was collected as postharvest residue.

Fungicidal values of bio-oils and their lignin-rich fractions obtained from wood/bark fast pyrolysis.

Pine wood, pine bark, oak wood and oak bark were pyrolyzed in an auger reactor. A total of 16 bio-oils or pyrolytic oils were generated at different temperatures and residence times. Two additional pine bio-oils were produced at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in a fluidized-bed reactor at different temperatures.

Sorption of arsenic, cadmium, and lead by chars produced from fast pyrolysis of wood and bark during bio-oil production.

Bio-char by-products from fast wood/bark pyrolyses, were investigated as adsorbents for the removal of the toxic metals (As(3+), Cd(2+), Pb(2+)) from water. Oak bark, pine bark, oak wood, and pine wood chars were obtained from fast pyrolysis at 400 and 450 degrees C in an auger-fed reactor and characterized. A commercial activated carbon was also investigated for comparison.

Single, binary and multi-component adsorption of copper and cadmium from aqueous solutions on Kraft lignin--a biosorbent.

A new biosorbent for removing toxic metal ions from water/industrial wastewater has been investigated using by-product lignin from paper production. Lignin was extracted from black liquor waste, characterized and utilized for the removal of copper and cadmium from aqueous solutions in single, binary and multi-component systems. Adsorption studies were conducted at different temperatures, lignin particle sizes, pHs and solid to liquid ratios.