Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A Novel Application of Biochar Produced from Invasive Weeds and Industrial Waste in Thermal Backfill for Crude Oil Industries

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Waste and Biomass Valorization Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The application of biochar in agricultural practices and vegetative slopes has been rigorously recommended in previous literature. However, its potential application in other industries is scarcely explored. Biochar is a chemically stable material with a low thermal conductivity, which makes it a perfect fit for blending with soil to use as thermal backfills. A thermal backfill is an essential component for maintaining the ambient temperature around the underground pipelines and storage tanks of crude oil industries. This study investigates the potential application of eighteen soil-biochar blends as thermal backfill. Highly plastic silt and clayey sand (SC) soil were amended with three different biochar types viz. hardwood biochar, water hyacinth biochar, and sugarcane bagasse biochar (SBBC), at three biochar contents of 2.5%, 5%, 7.5% (w/w). Thereafter, their compaction characteristics, thermal and physicochemical properties were investigated. The thermal conductivity (K) and volumetric heat capacity (C) of MH soil were reduced by 22%, 29%, 33%, and 16%, 24%, 26% with 7.5% amendment of hardwood, water hyacinth, and SBBC. Similarly, K and C values of SC soil decreased by 22%, 34%, 37%, and l2%, 18%, and 20%. The micrographic analysis of soil-biochar blend reveals that the entrapped air in biochar particles governs the heat transfer in biochar-amended soil. An inverse correlation of thermal conductivity with pH and electrical conductivity was also observed for the soil-biochar mixes. This study extends the domain of biochar application highlighting the engineering properties of different blends, which would be helpful for its field-scale application.

Graphical Abstract

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
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig.11

Similar content being viewed by others

Data Availability

All data, models, and code generated or used during the study appear in the submitted article.

References

  1. Chang, K.H., Lou, K.R., Ko, C.H.: Potential of bioenergy production from biomass wastes of rice paddies and forest sectors in Taiwan. J. Clean. Prod. 206, 460–476 (2019)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Sial, T.A., Lan, Z., Khan, M.N., Zhao, Y., Kumbhar, F., Liu, J., et al.: Evaluation of orange peel waste and its biochar on greenhouse gas emissions and soil biochemical properties within a loess soil. Waste Manage. 87, 125–134 (2019)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Lee, M., Lin, Y.L., Chiueh, P.T., Den, W.: Environmental and energy assessment of biomass residues to biochar as fuel: a brief review with recommendations for future bioenergy systems. J. Clean. Prod. 251, 119714 (2020)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Rahman, M.A.: Pyrolysis of water hyacinth in a fixed bed reactor: parametric effects on product distribution, characterization and syngas evolutionary behavior. Waste Manage. 80, 310–318 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Muigai, H.H., Bordoloi, U., Hussain, R., Ravi, K., Moholkar, V.S., Kalita, P.: A comparative study on synthesis and characterization of biochars derived from lignocellulosic biomass for their candidacy in agronomy and energy applications. Int. J. Energy Res. 45(3), 4765–4781 (2021)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Malik, A.: Environmental challenge vis a vis opportunity: the case of water hyacinth. Environ. Int. 33(1), 122–138 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Patel, S.: Threats, management and envisaged utilizations of aquatic weed Eichhornia crassipes: an overview. Rev. Environ. Sci. Bio/Technol. 11(3), 249–259 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Angalaeeswari, K., Kamaludeen, S.P.B.: Production and characterization of coconut shell and mesquite wood biochar. Int J Chem Stud, 5, 442–446. https://www.chemijournal.com/archives/2017/vol5issue4/PartG/5-4-17-657.pdf (2017)

  9. Lehmann, J., Joseph, S. (eds.): Biochar for environmental management: science, technology and implementation. Routledge, New York (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  10. Reddy, K.R., Yaghoubi, P., Yukselen-Aksoy, Y.: Effects of biochar amendment on geotechnical properties of landfill cover soil. Waste Manage. Res. 33(6), 524–532 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Chen, H., Ma, J., Wei, J., Gong, X., Yu, X., Guo, H., Zhao, Y.: Biochar increases plant growth and alters microbial communities via regulating the moisture and temperature of green roof substrates. Sci. Total Environ. 635, 333–342 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Ni, J.J., Chen, X.W., Ng, C.W.W., Guo, H.W.: Effects of biochar on water retention and matric suction of vegetated soil. Géotechnique Lett. 8(2), 124–129 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Zhang, Q., Song, Y., Wu, Z., Yan, X., Gunina, A., Kuzyakov, Y., Xiong, Z.: Effects of six-year biochar amendment on soil aggregation, crop growth, and nitrogen and phosphorus use efficiencies in a rice-wheat rotation. J. Clean. Prod. 242, 118435 (2020)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Alhar, M.A., Thompson, D.F., Oliver, I.W.: Mine spoil remediation via biochar addition to immobilise potentially toxic elements and promote plant growth for phytostabilisation. J. Environ. Manage. 277, 111500 (2021)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Mei, G., Kumar, H., Huang, H., Cai, W., Reddy, N.G., Chen, P., et al.: Desiccation cracks mitigation using biomass derived carbon produced from aquatic species in South China Sea. Waste and Biomass Valorization 12(3), 1493–1505 (2021)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Munir, M.A.M., Yousaf, B., Ali, M.U., Dan, C., Abbas, Q., Arif, M., Yang, X.: In situ synthesis of micro-plastics embedded sewage-sludge co-pyrolyzed biochar: Implications for the remediation of Cr and Pb availability and enzymatic activities from the contaminated soil. J. Clean. Prod. 302, 127005 (2021)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Ferreira, S.D., Manera, C., Silvestre, W.P., Pauletti, G.F., Altafini, C.R., Godinho, M.: Use of biochar produced from elephant grass by pyrolysis in a screw reactor as a soil amendment. Waste Biomass Valoriz. 10(10), 3089–3100 (2019)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Titova, J., Baltrėnaitė, E.: Physical and chemical properties of biochar produced from sewage sludge compost and plants biomass, fertilized with that compost, important for soil improvement. Waste Biomass Valoriz. 12(7), 3781–3800 (2021)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Gupta, S., Kua, H.W.: Factors determining the potential of biochar as a carbon capturing and sequestering construction material: critical review. J. Mater. Civ. Eng. 29(9), 04017086 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Cuthbertson, D., Berardi, U., Briens, C., Berruti, F.: Biochar from residual biomass as a concrete filler for improved thermal and acoustic properties. Biomass Bioenerg. 120, 77–83 (2019)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Patwa, D., Chandra, A., Ravi, K., Sreedeep, S.: Influence of biochar particle size fractions on thermal and mechanical properties of biochar-amended soil. J. Mater. Civ. Eng. 33(9), 04021236 (2021)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Abu-Hamdeh, N.H., Reeder, R.C.: Soil thermal conductivity effects of density, moisture, salt concentration, and organic matter. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 64(4), 1285–1290 (2000)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Usowicz, B., Lipiec, J., Łukowski, M., Marczewski, W., Usowicz, J.: The effect of biochar application on thermal properties and albedo of loess soil under grassland and fallow. Soil Tillage Res. 164, 45–51 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Zhang, Q., Wang, Y., Wu, Y., Wang, X., Du, Z., Liu, X., Song, J.: Effects of biochar amendment on soil thermal conductivity, reflectance, and temperature. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 77(5), 1478–1487 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Zhao, J., Ren, T., Zhang, Q., Du, Z., Wang, Y.: Effects of biochar amendment on soil thermal properties in the North China Plain. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 80(5), 1157–1166 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Liu, Z., Xu, J., Li, X., Wang, J.: Mechanisms of biochar effects on thermal properties of red soil in south China. Geoderma 323, 41–51 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Howard, A. K.: Pipe bedding and backfill. Geotechnical Branch Training Manual, (7) second edition. https://www.usbr.gov/tsc/techreferences/mands/mands-pdfs/pipebed.pdf (1996)

  28. Burrell, L.D., Zehetner, F., Rampazzo, N., Wimmer, B., Soja, G.: Long-term effects of biochar on soil physical properties. Geoderma 282, 96–102 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Głąb, T., Palmowska, J., Zaleski, T., Gondek, K.: Effect of biochar application on soil hydrological properties and physical quality of sandy soil. Geoderma 281, 11–20 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Sarma, C.P., Dey, A., Krishna, A.M.: Landslide early warning based on geotechnical slope stability model for the Guwahati region. In 50th Indian Geotechnical Conference, Pune, India. (2015)

  31. Sarma, C.P., Dey, A., Krishna, A.M.: Influence of digital elevation models on the simulation of rainfall-induced landslides in the hillslopes of Guwahati, India. Eng. Geol. 268, 105523 (2020)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. ASTM D: Standard test method for particle-size analysis of soils (D422–63). ASTM International, West Conshohocken (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  33. ASTM D 854: Standard test methods for specific gravity of soil solids by water pycnometer. ASTM International, West Conshohocken (2014)

    Google Scholar 

  34. ASTM D4318–10: Standard test methods for liquid limit, plastic limit, and plasticity index of soils. ASTM International, West Conshohocken (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  35. ASTM D698–12: Standard test methods for laboratory compaction characteristics of soil using standard effort. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, West Conshohocken (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  36. ASTM D2974–20: Standard test methods for determining the water (moisture) content, ash content, and organic material of peat and other organic soils. ASTM (2020). https://doi.org/10.1520/D2974-20E01

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Aghbashlo, M., Tabatabaei, M., Nadian, M.H., Davoodnia, V., Soltanian, S.: Prognostication of lignocellulosic biomass pyrolysis behavior using ANFIS model tuned by PSO algorithm. Fuel 253, 189–198 (2019)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Tomczyk, A., Sokołowska, Z., Boguta, P.: Biochar physicochemical properties: pyrolysis temperature and feedstock kind effects. Rev. Environ. Sci. Biotechnol. 19, 191–215 (2020)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Manyà, J.J.: Pyrolysis for biochar purposes: a review to establish current knowledge gaps and research needs. Environ. Sci. Technol. 46(15), 7939–7954 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. ASTM International D1762–84: Standard test method for chemical analysis of wood charcoal. ASTM International, West Conshohocken (2013)

    Google Scholar 

  41. Carter, M.R.: Soil sampling and methods of analysis. CRC Press, Boca Raton (1993)

    Google Scholar 

  42. International Biochar Initiative: Standardized product definition and product testing guidelines for biochar that is used in soil. IBI biochar standards, version 2.1. https://biochar-international.org/characterizationstandard/ (2015) Accessed 23 Nov 2015

  43. KD2 Pro: KD2 Pro thermal properties analyzer operators manual, version 8. Decagon Devices Inc., Pullman (2008). http://manuals.decagon.com/Manuals/13351_KD2%20Pro_Web.pdf

  44. Sah, P.K., Sreedeep, S.: Evaluation of bentonite-based thermal backfill materials. Environ. Geotech. 1(3), 179–188 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. Gupt, C.B., Bordoloi, S., Sahoo, R.K., Sekharan, S.: Mechanical performance and micro-structure of bentonite-fly ash and bentonite-sand mixes for landfill liner application. J. Clean. Prod. 292, 126033 (2021)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. ASTM D 2487–11: Standard practice for classification of soils for engineering purposes (unified soil classification system) annual book of ASTM standard. ASTM Int. 4, 08 (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  47. Dubey, A.A., Borthakur, A., Ravi, K.: Investigation of soil suction characteristics induced by the degradation of organic matter. Geotech. Geol. Eng. (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-021-01986-7

  48. Sangani, M.F., Abrishamkesh, S., Owens, G.: Physicochemical characteristics of biochars can be beneficially manipulated using post-pyrolyzed particle size modification. Bioresour. Technol. (2020). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2020.123157

    Article  Google Scholar 

  49. Priyadharshini, P., Ramamurthy, K., Robinson, R.G.: Influence of temperature and duration of thermal treatment on properties of excavated soil as fine aggregate in cement mortar. J. Mater. Civ. Eng. 31(8), 04019137 (2019)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  50. Lu, S., Ren, T., Gong, Y., Horton, R.: An improved model for predicting soil thermal conductivity from water content at room temperature. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 71(1), 8–14 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  51. De Vries, D.A.: Thermal properties of soils. In: van Wijk, W.R. (ed.) Physics of plant environment, pp. 210–235. North-Holland, Amsterdam (1963)

    Google Scholar 

  52. Kumar, H., Ganesan, S.P., Bordoloi, S., Sreedeep, S., Lin, P., Mei, G., et al.: Erodibility assessment of compacted biochar amended soil for geo-environmental applications. Sci. Total Environ. 672, 698–707 (2019)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  53. Brown, R.A., Kercher, A.K., Nguyen, T.H., Nagle, D.C., Ball, W.P.: Production and characterization of synthetic wood chars for use as surrogates for natural sorbents. Org. Geochem. 37(3), 321–333 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  54. Soinne, H., Hovi, J., Tammeorg, P., Turtola, E.: Effect of biochar on phosphorus sorption and clay soil aggregate stability. Geoderma 219, 162–167 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  55. Guo, Y., Tang, H., Li, G., Xie, D.: Effects of cow dung biochar amendment on adsorption and leaching of nutrient from an acid yellow soil irrigated with biogas slurry. Water Air Soil Pollut. 225(1), 1820 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  56. Abu-Hamdeh, N.H.: Thermal properties of soils as affected by density and water content. Biosys. Eng. 86(1), 97–102 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  57. Zhao, B., Li, L., Zhao, Y., Zhang, X.: Thermal conductivity of a brown Earth soil as affected by biochars derived at different temperatures: experiment and prediction with the Campbell model. Int. Agrophys 34, 433–439 (2020)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  58. Tong, B., Kool, D., Heitman, J.L., Sauer, T.J., Gao, Z., Horton, R.: Thermal property values of a central Iowa soil as functions of soil water content and bulk density or of soil air content. Eur. J. Soil Sci. 71(2), 169–178 (2020)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  59. Xie, X., Lu, Y., Ren, T., Horton, R.: Thermal conductivity of mineral soils relates linearly to air-filled porosity. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 84(1), 53–56 (2020)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  60. Mariner, J.T., Sayir, H.: U.S. Patent No. 5,863,467. Washington, DC: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. (1999)

  61. Pariyar, P., Kumari, K., Jain, M.K., Jadhao, P.S.: Evaluation of change in biochar properties derived from different feedstock and pyrolysis temperature for environmental and agricultural application. Sci. Total Environ. 713, 136433 (2020)

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the Central Instrument Facility (CIF) at the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati for providing the necessary support for the completion of work.

Funding

The authors received no specific funding for carrying out this research work.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, Assam, 781039, India

    Deepak Patwa, K. Ravi & S. Sreedeep

  2. School of Energy Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, Assam, 781039, India

    Harrison Hihu Muigai & Pankaj Kalita

Authors
  1. Deepak Patwa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Harrison Hihu Muigai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. K. Ravi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. S. Sreedeep
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Pankaj Kalita
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

DP—Conceptualization, Data curation, Investigation, Writing-original draft. HHM—Data curation, KR—Supervision, Writing-review & editing, SS—Supervision, Writing-review & editing, PK—Writing-review & editing.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to K. Ravi.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that there are no competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

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 207 KB)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Patwa, D., Muigai, H.H., Ravi, K. et al. A Novel Application of Biochar Produced from Invasive Weeds and Industrial Waste in Thermal Backfill for Crude Oil Industries. Waste Biomass Valor 13, 3025–3042 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12649-022-01694-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12649-022-01694-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation