Priyanka Saxena1,2, Himani Bhargav3, Nidhi3, Sanjeev Kumar Goyal1,2
1 Council of Scientific and Industrial Research- National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, (CSIR-NEERI) Delhi Zonal Centre, New Delhi, India
2Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India
3Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Biosciences and Biotechnology Domain, Amity University, Uttar Pradesh, India
Cite this article: Priyanka Saxena, Himani Bhargav, Nidhi, Sanjeev Kumar Goyal, 2024. Physico-chemical characterization of biochar prepared from rice stubble in India. J. Appl. Sci. Innov. Technol. 3 (2), 71-75.
Rice stubble (RS) is one of the most challenging agricultural wastes in the world, with an estimated 731 million metric tonnes produced each year. Burning of rice stubble in an open field result in air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions (7300 kg CO2-equivalent per hectare), losses of soil nutrients and biodiversity, and risks to human health. Transforming crop straws into biochar provides a potential answer to these concerns by delivering a value-added product while simultaneously sequestering carbon. Biochar systems in energy-constrained in developing countries may bring benefits at many levels of energy provision. There are various fields in which biochar systems might be particularly relevant in developing-country contexts. Land application of biochar for small farmers reduces the fertilizer costs, increased yield and enhanced soil quality. Improved cook stoves that produce biochar as well as heat for cooking is another advantage. In the present study, biochar from the rice stubble was produced by slow pyrolysis method in a muffle furnace at 350°C, 450°C and 550°C. Proximate and physico-chemical analysis of biochar were done to characterize the prepared biochar at three temperatures. The pH, electrical conductivity (EC), volatile matter, ash content, moisture content, fixed carbon etc. were analysed to characterize the biochar. Biochar found to get more alkaline with an increase in temperature while biochar yield (48 to 34%) and volatile matter content was decreased. Fixed carbon content and ash content also increased with an increase in pyrolysis temperature.
Keywords: Rice stubble; Biochar; SEM-EDS; FT-IR: Pyrolysis; Energy
Scope: Environmental Science & Engineering
