Conversion of woody biomass to bio-oil has significant potential as an alternative bio-based energy source for the future. Particularly in rural areas where waste from sawmills can be converted to a renewable transportation fuel using fast pyrolysis. However, if this process is going to be implemented biochar, the side product of bio-oil production must also find high value applications. We have recently demonstrated that biochars sourced from sawmill residues and produced via fast pyrolysis in an auger reactor can be chemically modified to generate accessible nitrogen functionality for CO2 capture and storage. Biochar was chemically functionalized using two novel methods of amine functionalization: (i) nitration, followed by reduction, and (ii) condensation of aminopropyl triethoxysilane on the surface. Although functionalization resulted in a reduction in the pore volume and surface area of the biochars, post-functionalization mild thermal activation in an inert atmosphere greatly enhanced the adsorption properties. The thermally treated functionalized chars had a lower H:C ratio, higher surface area, micropore volume, and sufficient amount of nitrogen compared to the unmodified char. The thermally treated aminopropyl triethoxysilane char had the highest adsorption capacity of 3.7 mmol/g with 0.24 wt % nitrogen. Biochars sourced from waste streams demonstrated high efficiency of carbon dioxide removal, comparable to some synthesized adsorbents reported in the literature.

Implementing nitrogen functionalized BioChar for CO<sub>2</sub> capture and storage

2019 Spring National Meeting

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Implementing nitrogen functionalized BioChar for CO2 capture and storage

Implementing nitrogen functionalized BioChar for CO₂ capture and storage