article · Biofuels
Co-carbonising plastic waste and plant matter offers an approach to waste valorisation and biochar creation. This research assesses biochar produced from low-density polyethylene and neem leaves using batch and semi-batch biomass fuel-based reactors. The batch reactor operated for approximately two hours and achieved a biochar yield of 30.35 per cent. In contrast, the semi-batch system ran for nearly three hours, reached higher peak temperatures, and produced a lower yield of 17.3 per cent. However, the semi-batch process generated biochar with elevated carbon content, a surface area of 227 square metres per gram, and a pore diameter of 2.116 nanometres. Elemental analysis showed that while the batch process retained seven elements, the semi-batch product lacked nitrogen, potassium, and magnesium, demonstrating that reactor design substantially influences the chemical and physical characteristics of the biochar.
Combining plastic waste with discarded organic matter to produce biochar provides a dual benefit: clearing persistent waste materials and capturing carbon. Demonstrating how reactor designs affect the structural and chemical qualities of the resulting material helps developers tailor production processes to manufacture biochars suitable for environmental remediation, water filtration, and advanced energy applications.
The abstract highlights potential end applications in water treatment, energy conversion, and energy storage. Technology developers and waste-management operators could utilise these comparative reactor insights to select operating modes based on target biochar characteristics, such as higher surface area or specific element profiles. The technology remains at an early-stage experimental level, with testing limited to reactor performance and laboratory material characterisation.
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This research aims to investigate and compare the properties of biochar derived from low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and neem leaves, utilizing both batch and semi-batch biomass fuel-based reactors for co-carbonization. While previous studies have primarily employed electrical-powered or biomass fuel-based batch reactors, this study introduces the innovative approach of utilizing a semi-batch reactor, marking a significant advancement in biochar production. The co-carbonization process lasted for ∼2 h in the batch-based system and nearly 3 h in the semi-batch system. The semi-batch system achieved higher temperature peaks in comparison to the batch-based system. In terms of biochar yield, the batch-based system generated a biochar yield of 30.35%, while the semi-batch system yielded 17.3%. Through BET analysis, it was determined that the biochar produced using the semi-batch reactor had a surface area of 227 m2/g and a pore diameter of 2.116 nm. Similarities and differences in functional groups among the biochar samples produced using the semi-batch and batch reactors were identified through FTIR analysis. By utilizing EDX spectroscopy, it was observed that the batch-based system contained seven elements, whereas the semi-batch-reacted sample had similar elements but lacked nitrogen, potassium, and magnesium. The semi-batch-reacted sample exhibited an increased carbon content, whereas the concentrations of other elements decreased when compared to the batch-reacted sample. The biochar samples can be applied in various applications, including water treatment, energy conversion, and storage. The findings of this study contribute to sustainable waste management practices, carbon sequestration efforts, and the development of innovative solutions for various industries.
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DOI: 10.1080/17597269.2023.2281099
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