Optimization of Biochar Preparation from Acacia Wood for Soil Amendment

Abstract

Biochar was prepared from Acacia wood by slow pyrolysis process under different conditions in order to determine the optimum condition of the pyrolysis temperature and time. The temperature was varied from 300 - 500^oC meanwhile the time was varied from 1 - 3 hours. The regression analysis was applied to investigate the relationship between surface area, APD, and pH of biochar (response variables) and the independent factors (temperature and time). The response surface methodology was used for determining the optimum condition of biochar preparation from Acacia wood. The relationship between all response variables and the pyrolysis temperature and time is fit to the first order linear regression model. The pyrolysis temperatures have the significant impact (at 95% confident interval) on the surface area and APD of biochar meanwhile the pyrolysis times do not. The optimum condition for preparing biochar from Acacia wood using the laboratory electrical furnace is at 434.8^oC, 1 hour of pyrolysis temperature and time. In addition, the proposed range of the optimum pyrolysis temperature is 413 - 450^oC and the range of the optimum pyrolysis time is 1 - 2 hours.