Jaka Kuncara, Martomo Setyawan, Dhias Cahya Hakika

CHARACTERISTICS OF BAGASSE BIOCHAR IN INDUSTRIAL SCALE PRODUCTION

Introduction

Characteristics of bagasse biochar in industrial scale production. Investigate industrial-scale bagasse biochar characteristics from rotary furnace pyrolysis. Effects of temperature and residence time on its properties: fixed carbon, ash, pores.

Abstract

Bagasse is a waste that can still be processed into more useful materials, in this case it will be processed into biochar. The bagasse used is sugarcane milling waste from a sugar factory in Majalengka, Cirebon, West Java. The pyrolysis process is carried out at the biochar factory of PT XXX which is also located in the area. Making biochar with an industrial-scale pyrolysis reactor namely the rotary carbonization furnace reactor. The main components are a bagasse feeder system, rotary drum dryer, pyrolysis reactor, fan and condenser. The system operates in line from the feeder to the biochar output. The purpose of this research is to investigate the pyrolysis of bagasse in a rotary horizontal carbonization furnace reactor to study the effect of pyrolysis process parameters in the form of temperature and residence time on the product characteristics of biochar. The tests provided results that the residence time has an effect on the proximate and ultimate analysis of biochar. The results showed that with increasing residence time, the volatile meter, hydrogen and oxygen decreased while the ash content, fixed carbon, carbon and gross calories increased. The test also provides results that temperature affects the proximate and ultimate analysis of biochar. The results show that as the pyrolysis temperature increases, the parameters of ash content, fixed carbon and gross calory increase while the parameters of volatile metter, hydrogen and oxygen decrease. The morphological structure of biochar changes with increasing pyrolysis temperature and the results showed that the higher the pyrolysis temperature, the larger the diameter of the biochar pores.

Review

This study presents a highly relevant investigation into the characteristics of biochar produced from bagasse at an industrial scale, a critical step beyond laboratory-based research. The utilization of sugarcane milling waste from a local factory in West Java for biochar production at PT XXX demonstrates a commendable approach to waste valorization and local resource management. The use of a rotary carbonization furnace reactor operating an in-line system provides valuable insights into the practical aspects of industrial biochar manufacturing, making the findings particularly significant for sustainable waste management and biochar commercialization efforts. The research effectively examines the influence of key pyrolysis parameters—temperature and residence time—on the resultant biochar's proximate, ultimate, and morphological characteristics. The abstract clearly articulates that both increased residence time and higher pyrolysis temperatures contribute to a desirable increase in ash content, fixed carbon, carbon content, and gross calorific value, concurrently with a decrease in volatile matter, hydrogen, and oxygen. The finding that higher pyrolysis temperatures lead to larger biochar pore diameters is also an important observation, offering specific insights into the material's potential applications based on its physical structure. While the abstract provides a strong overview of the study's scope and findings, the full manuscript would benefit from a more detailed presentation of the experimental methodology. Specifically, a clear delineation of the specific ranges of temperature and residence time investigated would enhance the reproducibility and interpretation of the results. Additionally, a discussion of the practical implications of the observed biochar characteristics for various applications (e.g., soil amendment, adsorption, energy) would significantly strengthen the paper's impact. Future research could also consider incorporating an economic analysis of this industrial-scale production and a comparative study with biochar produced from different feedstocks or via alternative large-scale pyrolysis technologies to benchmark performance and cost-effectiveness.

Full Text

Comments

You need to be logged in to post a comment.