Start Over

Tomato waste biochar in the framework of circular economy.

Authors :: Stylianou M
Laifi T
Bennici S
Dutournie P
Limousy L
Agapiou A
Papamichael I
Khiari B
Jeguirim M
Zorpas AA
Source :: The Science of the total environment [Sci Total Environ] 2023 May 01; Vol. 871, pp. 161959. Date of Electronic Publication: 2023 Feb 02.
Publication Year :: 2023
Abstract: Tomato pomace was slowly pyrolyzed at 350 and 550 °C (under an N <subscript>2</subscript> flow of 50 L/h) at a rate of 6 °C/min and a residence time of 1:30 h to produce two biochars named B350 and B550, respectively. In addition, the two biochars were chemically activated with ΚΟΗ (at a ratio of 1:10 w/v) at 800 °C to produce two new materials named BA350 and BA550. The four biochars produced were characterized physically and chemically (pH, yield, calorific value). They were also analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (B.E.T), elemental analysis (EA), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The results showed that as the pyrolysis temperature increased (350 to 550 °C), the specific surface area (SSA) increased. The latter was also significantly increased by the activation process. EA showed a variation in the mineral content of the produced biochars, resulting in a different content of the biochars after activation. The parameters studied showed that biochars from tomato waste could be used as an organic amendment to improve soil fertility in agricultural. In addition, because of their ability to absorb water, they could be used as a water reservoir in soils in arid areas.<br />Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors have no competing interests to declare that are relevant to the content of this article.<br /> (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)