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Influence of temperature on product distribution and biochar properties by municipal sludge pyrolysis

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Abstract

Biochar has the potential to amend degraded soil and improve crop yield. An experiment involving municipal sludge pyrolysis was carried out in a horizontal quartz reactor over the temperature range of 300–700 °C. The aim of this work was to investigate the influence of pyrolysis temperature on product distribution and biochar properties required for agronomic applications. Results of the experiment showed that yield and energy conversion efficiency of biochar decreased as pyrolysis temperatures rose, while bio-oil and syngas increased gradually. Biochar aromaticity barely changed, while polarity gradually decreased and specific surface area increased with a rise in pyrolysis temperature. Nutritive elements showed different enriching characteristics in the sludge pyrolysis process: nitrogen failed to enrich in biochars, whereas both phosphorus and potassium were enriched. Heavy metals showed good stability in the pyrolysis process except chromium; the contents of all metals used in the biochar conformed to Chinese control standards for agronomic application.

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Acknowledgments

This work was financially supported by National 973 project of China (2011CB201501), Projects of International Cooperation and Exchanges NSFC (51161140330), the Knowledge Innovation Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (NKSCX2-EW-G-1-5), and the Program of Guangdong Province—Chinese Academy of Sciences Strategic Cooperation (2010A090100035).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Guangzhou Institute of Energy Conversion, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, China

    Haoran Yuan, Tao Lu, Dandan Zhao, Hongyu Huang, Kobayashi Noriyuki & Yong Chen

  2. Key Laboratory of Renewable Energy and Natural Gas Hydrate, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, China

    Haoran Yuan, Tao Lu, Dandan Zhao, Hongyu Huang, Kobayashi Noriyuki & Yong Chen

  3. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China

    Tao Lu

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  1. Haoran Yuan
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  2. Tao Lu
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  3. Dandan Zhao
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  4. Hongyu Huang
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  5. Kobayashi Noriyuki
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  6. Yong Chen
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Correspondence to Tao Lu.

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Yuan, H., Lu, T., Zhao, D. et al. Influence of temperature on product distribution and biochar properties by municipal sludge pyrolysis. J Mater Cycles Waste Manag 15, 357–361 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10163-013-0126-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10163-013-0126-9

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