Influence of Feedstock and Final Pyrolysis Temperature on Breaking Strength and Dust Production of Wood-Derived Biochars

María Videgain, Joan J. Manyà, Mariano Vidal, Eva Cristina Correa, Belén Diezma and Francisco Javier García-Ramos
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María Videgain: Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón—IA2 (CITA-UNIZAR), EPS-Universidad de Zaragoza, E-22071 Huesca, Spain
Joan J. Manyà: Thermochemical Processes Group, Aragón Institute of Engineering Research (I3A), EPS, University of Zaragoza, E-22071 Huesca, Spain
Mariano Vidal: Departamento de Ingeniería Mecánica, EPS, University of Zaragoza, E-22071 Huesca, Spain
Eva Cristina Correa: Laboratorio de Propiedades Físicas y Técnicas Avanzadas en Agroalimentación, ETSIAAB, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, E-28040 Madrid, Spain
Belén Diezma: Laboratorio de Propiedades Físicas y Técnicas Avanzadas en Agroalimentación, ETSIAAB, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, E-28040 Madrid, Spain
Francisco Javier García-Ramos: Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón—IA2 (CITA-UNIZAR), EPS-Universidad de Zaragoza, E-22071 Huesca, Spain

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 21, 1-15

Abstract: The susceptibility to fragmentation of biochar is an important property to consider in field applications. Physical and mechanical properties of wood-derived biochars from vine shoots and holm oak were studied to evaluate the effect of biomass feedstock, final pyrolysis temperature and application conditions. Vine shoots and holm oak pruning residues were selected for biochar production. Slow pyrolysis experiments were conducted at two different final temperatures (400 and 600 °C). Physical and chemical characteristics of biomass and biochars were determined. Impact strength was evaluated through the measurement of the gravitational potential energy per unit area (J mm ?2 ) necessary for the breakage of biochar fragments. Shear strength (N mm ?2 ) and a combination of shear/compression strengths (N) were analyzed using a Universal Texture Analyzer. A particular mechanical treatment was carried out on biochar samples to simulate the processing bodies of a commercial manure spreader, under two gravimetric moisture contents. Holm oak-derived biochar was more resistant than vine shoot-derived biochar to the applied forces. Vine shoots-derived biochar did not show a significantly different mechanical behavior between temperatures. Holm Oak-derived biochar produced at the higher final pyrolysis temperature showed higher resistance to be broken into smaller pieces. Moistening resulted in an adequate practice to improve mechanical spreading.

Keywords: physical characterization; mechanical processing; vineyard pruning; holm oak pruning; particulate matter; biochar moistening (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:21:p:11871-:d:665929

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