Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Biomass pretreatment method affects the physicochemical properties of biochar prepared from residues of lignocellulosic ethanol production

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This work investigated the influence of pretreatment methods (using sulfuric acid, sodium hydroxide, or calcium hydroxide) on the characteristics of biochar prepared from residues generated by lignocellulosic ethanol production. As a result, the biochar prepared from the residue of an acid pretreatment-based process showed better thermal stability than the other two biochars. The weight loss rates of three kinds of biochar at 900 °C were 17.85%, 30.95%, and 36.76%. The specific surface areas of the three biochars were 3.03 m2/g, 1.24 m2/g, and 8.04 m2/g, respectively, with the largest specific surface area found on the biochar of calcium hydroxide pretreatment-based process. FTIR analysis showed that the types of surface functional groups of the biochars were basically the same. The maximum theoretical adsorption capacities of the three biochars for methylene blue were 37.3 mg/g, 48.7 mg/g, and 58.2 mg/g, respectively. The adsorption capacity of biochar from alkali pretreatment for methylene blue was significantly better than that from acid pretreatment. The overall results showed that the properties of biochars prepared from fermentation residues under different pretreatment methods were quite different.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

Not applicable.

References

  1. Yek PNY, Cheng YW, Liew RK, Wan Mahari WA, Ong HC, Chen W-H, Peng W, Park Y-K, Sonne C, Kong SH, Tabatabaei M, Aghbashlo M, Lam SS (2021) Progress in the torrefaction technology for upgrading oil palm wastes to energy-dense biochar: a review. Renew Sust Energ Rev 151:111645. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2021.111645

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Gazal AA, Jakrawatana N, Silalertruksa T, Gheewala SH (2022) Water-energy-land-food nexus for bioethanol development in Nigeria. Biomass Convers Bior. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13399-022-02528-8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Lu X, Zhu X, Guo H, Que H, Wang D, Liang D, He T, Hu C, Xu C, Gu X (2020) Efficient depolymerization of alkaline lignin to phenolic compounds at low temperatures with formic acid over inexpensive Fe–Zn/Al2O3 Catalyst. Energ Fuel 34(6):7121–7130. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.energyfuels.0c00742

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Byun J, Cha Y-L, Park S-M, Kim K-S, Lee J-E, Kang Y-G (2020) Lignocellulose pretreatment combining continuous alkaline single-screw extrusion and ultrasonication to enhance biosugar production. Energies 13(21):5636. https://doi.org/10.3390/en13215636

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Pang B, Cao X-F, Sun S-N, Wang X-L, Wen J-L, Lam SS, Yuan T-Q, Sun R-C (2020) The direct transformation of bioethanol fermentation residues for production of high-quality resins. Green Chem 22(2):439–447. https://doi.org/10.1039/C9GC03568K

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Biswas B, Singh R, Kumar J, Khan AA, Krishna BB, Bhaskar T (2016) Slow pyrolysis of prot, alkali and dealkaline lignins for production of chemicals. Bioresource Technol 213:319–326. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2016.01.131

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Asuha S, Fei F, Wurendaodi W, Zhao S, Wu H, Zhuang X (2020) Activation of kaolinite by a low-temperature chemical method and its effect on methylene blue adsorption. Powder Technol 361:624–632. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.powtec.2019.11.068

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Rambabu K, Bharath G, Monash P, Velu S, Banat F, Naushad M, Arthanareeswaran G, Loke Show P (2019) Effective treatment of dye polluted wastewater using nanoporous CaCl2 modified polyethersulfone membrane. Process Saf Environ 124:266–278. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psep.2019.02.015

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Vadivel S, Theerthagiri J, Madhavan J, SanthoshiniPriya T, Balasubramanian N (2016) Enhanced photocatalytic activity of degradation of azo, phenolic and triphenyl methane dyes using novel octagon shaped BiOCl discs/MWCNT composite. J Water Process Eng 10:165–171. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jwpe.2015.12.001

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Yang X, Jin D, Zhang M, Wu P, Jin H, Li J, Wang X, Ge H, Wang Z, Lou H (2016) Fabrication and application of magnetic starch-based activated hierarchical porous carbon spheres for the efficient removal of dyes from water. Mater Chem Phys 174:179–186. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matchemphys.2016.02.073

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Zheng Y, Yao G, Cheng Q, Yu S, Liu M, Gao C (2013) Positively charged thin-film composite hollow fiber nanofiltration membrane for the removal of cationic dyes through submerged filtration. Desalination 328:42–50. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2013.08.009

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Shah BA, Oluyinka OA, Shah AV (2019) Fly ash reuse as mesoporous Ca- and Mg-zeolitic composites for the seclusion of aniline from aqueous solution. Arab J Sci Eng 44(1):289–304. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-018-3596-1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Nithyalakshmi B, Saraswathi R (2021) Removal of colorants from wastewater using biochar derived from leaf waste. Biomass Convers Bior. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13399-021-01776-4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Mouni L, Belkhiri L, Bollinger J-C, Bouzaza A, Assadi A, Tirri A, Dahmoune F, Madani K, Remini H (2018) Removal of methylene blue from aqueous solutions by adsorption on kaolin: kinetic and equilibrium studies. Appl Clay Sci 153:38–45. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clay.2017.11.034

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Wang Y, Pan J, Li Y, Zhang P, Li M, Zheng H, Zhang X, Li H, Du Q (2020) Methylene blue adsorption by activated carbon, nickel alginate/activated carbon aerogel, and nickel alginate/graphene oxide aerogel: a comparison study. J Mater Res Technol 9(6):12443–12460. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmrt.2020.08.084

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Oluyinka OA, Patel AV, Shah BA, Bagia MI (2020) Microwave and fusion techniques for the synthesis of mesoporous zeolitic composite adsorbents from bagasse fly ash: sorption of p-nitroaniline and nitrobenzene. Appl Water Sci 10(12):236. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13201-020-01327-8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Chen B, Yang Z, Ma G, Kong D, Xiong W, Wang J, Zhu Y, Xia Y (2018) Heteroatom-doped porous carbons with enhanced carbon dioxide uptake and excellent methylene blue adsorption capacities. Micropor Mesopor Mat 257:1–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.micromeso.2017.08.026

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Panwar NL, Pawar A (2020) Influence of activation conditions on the physicochemical properties of activated biochar: a review. Biomass Convers Bior 12(3):925–947. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13399-020-00870-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Chen B, Chen Z, Lv S (2011) A novel magnetic biochar efficiently sorbs organic pollutants and phosphate. Bioresource Technol 102(2):716–723. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2010.08.067

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Ren T, Chen N, Wan Mahari WA, Xu C, Feng H, Ji X, Yin Q, Chen P, Zhu S, Liu H, Liu G, Li L, Lam SS (2021) Biochar for cadmium pollution mitigation and stress resistance in tobacco growth. Environ Res 192:110273. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2020.110273

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Yi Y, Huang Z, Lu B, Xian J, Tsang EP, Cheng W, Fang J, Fang Z (2020) Magnetic biochar for environmental remediation: a review. Bioresource Technol 298:122468. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2019.122468

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Hu B, Ai Y, Jin J, Hayat T, Alsaedi A, Zhuang L, Wang X (2020) Efficient elimination of organic and inorganic pollutants by biochar and biochar-based materials. Biochar 2(1):47–64. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42773-020-00044-4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Wan Mahari WA, Waiho K, Azwar E, Fazhan H, Peng W, Ishak SD, Tabatabaei M, Yek PNY, Almomani F, Aghbashlo M, Lam SS (2022) A state-of-the-art review on producing engineered biochar from shellfish waste and its application in aquaculture wastewater treatment. Chemosphere 288:132559. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.132559

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Liu S, W-h Xu, Liu Y-g, Tan X-f, G-m Zeng X, Li JL, Zhou Z, Yan Z-l, Cai X-x (2017) Facile synthesis of Cu(II) impregnated biochar with enhanced adsorption activity for the removal of doxycycline hydrochloride from water. Sci Total Environ 592:546–553. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.03.087

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Ghodake GS, Shinde SK, Kadam AA, Saratale RG, Saratale GD, Kumar M, Palem RR, Al-Shwaiman HA, Elgorban AM, Syed A, Kim D-Y (2021) Review on biomass feedstocks, pyrolysis mechanism and physicochemical properties of biochar: state-of-the-art framework to speed up vision of circular bioeconomy. J Clean Prod 297:126645. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.126645

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Chen XX, Yuan XCA, Chen ST, Yu JM, Zhai R, Xu ZX, Jin MJ (2021) Densifying lignocellulosic biomass with alkaline chemicals (DLC) pretreatment unlocks highly fermentable sugars for bioethanol production from corn stover. Green Chem 23(13):4828–4839. https://doi.org/10.1039/D1GC01362A

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Yuan XC, Shen GN, Chen ST, Chen XX, Zhang CC, Liu SM, Jin MJ (2022) Modified simultaneous saccharification and co-fermentation of DLC pretreated corn stover for high-titer cellulosic ethanol production without water washing or detoxifying pretreated biomass. Energy 247. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2022.123488

  28. Sluiter JB, Ruiz RO, Scarlata CJ, Sluiter AD, Templeton DW (2010) Compositional analysis of lignocellulosic feedstocks. 1. Review and description of methods. J Agr Food Chem 58(16):9043–9053. https://doi.org/10.1021/jf1008023

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Oluyinka OA, Oke EA, Oyelude EO, Abugri J, Raheem SA (2022) Recapitulating potential environmental and industrial applications of biomass wastes. J Mater Cycles Waste 24(6):2089–2107. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10163-022-01473-y

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Kim H-B, Kim J-G, Kim T, Alessi DS, Baek K (2020) Mobility of arsenic in soil amended with biochar derived from biomass with different lignin contents: relationships between lignin content and dissolved organic matter leaching. Chem Eng J 393:124687. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2020.124687

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Wan J, Liu L, Ayub KS, Zhang W, Shen G, Hu S, Qian X (2020) Characterization and adsorption performance of biochars derived from three key biomass constituents. Fuel 269:117142. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2020.117142

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Xu Y, Bai T, Yan Y, Ma K (2020) Influence of sodium hydroxide addition on characteristics and environmental risk of heavy metals in biochars derived from swine manure. Waste Manage 105:511–519. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2020.02.035

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Liu L, Yue T, Liu R, Lin H, Wang D, Li B (2021) Efficient absorptive removal of Cd(II) in aqueous solution by biochar derived from sewage sludge and calcium sulfate. Bioresource Technol 336:125333. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2021.125333

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Meng F, Wang D, Zhang M (2021) Effects of different pretreatment methods on biochar properties from pyrolysis of corn stover. J Energy Inst 98:294–302. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joei.2021.07.008

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Yu L, Gamliel DP, Markunas B, Valla JA (2021) A promising solution for food waste: preparing activated carbons for phenol removal from water streams. ACS Omega 6(13):8870–8883. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.0c06029

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Liu L, Li Y, Fan SS (2019) Preparation of KOH and H3PO4 modified biochar and its application in methylene blue removal from aqueous solution. Processes 7(12). https://doi.org/10.3390/pr7120891

  37. Iqbal J, Shah NS, Sayed M, Niazi NK, Imran M, Khan JA, Khan ZUH, Hussien AGS, Polychronopoulou K, Howari F (2021) Nano-zerovalent manganese/biochar composite for the adsorptive and oxidative removal of Congo-red dye from aqueous solutions. J Hazard Mater 403:123854. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.123854

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Liu XJ, Li MF, Singh SK (2021) Manganese-modified lignin biochar as adsorbent for removal of methylene blue. J Mater Res Technol 12:1434–1445. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmrt.2021.03.076

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the “National Key R&D Program of China” (Nos. 2021YFC2101301 & 2016YFE0105400).

Funding

This work was supported by the “National Key R&D Program of China” (Nos. 2021YFC2101301 & 2016YFE0105400).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Environmental and Biological Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing, 210094, China

    Chengcheng Zhang, Shuangmei Liu, Sitong Chen, Xinchuan Yuan, Xiangxue Chen & Mingjie Jin

Authors
  1. Chengcheng Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Shuangmei Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Sitong Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Xinchuan Yuan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Xiangxue Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Mingjie Jin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

Chengcheng Zhang: Designed and performed the experiments, data analysis, and manuscript preparation. Shuangmei Liu: Data analysis. Sitong Chen: Provided engineered yeast and performed the experimental work. Xingchuan Yuan: Data analysis. Xiangxue Chen: Data analysis. Mingjie Jin: Project management, supervision, data analysis, and manuscript preparation.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mingjie Jin.

Ethics declarations

Ethical approval

Not applicable.

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

Additional information

Publisher's note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Supplementary Information

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary file1 (DOCX 107 KB)

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Zhang, C., Liu, S., Chen, S. et al. Biomass pretreatment method affects the physicochemical properties of biochar prepared from residues of lignocellulosic ethanol production. Biomass Conv. Bioref. (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13399-023-03908-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13399-023-03908-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation