Data for: Effect of feedstock moisture content on biochar yield and carbon recalcitrance during autothermal pyrolysis

Author(s): Madeleine McMahon, Robert Brown, Tannon Daugaard

Abstract:

This study investigates the influence of feedstock moisture content on biochar yield and carbon recalcitrance during autothermal pyrolysis of anaerobic digestate. Biochar is a product of pyrolysis that can serve as a carbon sequestration agent – the fraction of recalcitrant carbon in the biochar contributes to its stability and allows it to store carbon in the soil long term. Digestate samples with moisture contents of <5%, 10%, 20%, 30%, and 40% were tested in duplicate. The resulting product distribution and composition of biochars produced were analyzed for yield and carbon stability. Increasing feedstock moisture content had no significant effect on biochar yields produced but significantly affected the yield and composition of the bio-oil and noncondensable gases (NCGs). The Van Krevelen Diagram and the volatile matter-to-fixed carbon (VM/FC) diagram were used to evaluate biochar’s composition to determine its degree of carbonization and stability. Analysis of biochar composition indicates that an increase in moisture content had no significant effect on biochar composition, and thus, its carbon recalcitrance.

Funder: USDA NIFA

Award Title:

Consortium for Cultivating Human And Naturally reGenerative Enterprises: Grass2Gas

Award Number: 2020-68012-31824

Keywords:

autothermal pyrolysis, bio-oil, biochar, digestate, fluidized bed reactor, moisture content

Project (Abbreviated name):

G2G_Brown_Daugaard_digestate_autothermal_pyrolysis

Team: Grass2Gas

Families:

Bovidae

Species:

Bos taurus

Full Metadata:

G2G_Brown_Daugaard_digestate_autothermal_pyrolysis Metadata_v1.0.pdf (204.44 KB)

Data Mirror:

Environmental Data Initiative

Data Table Column Names and Descriptions

Table name	Column name	Data type	Units	Column description
dataset bio oil water content	dataset bio oil water content pkey	integer	dimensionless	A unique primary key identifier for each row in this table.
dataset bio oil water content	feedstock moisture percent	float	percent	Moisture content of the feedstock on a dry biomass basis.
dataset bio oil water content	heavy organics percent	float	percent	Fraction of high boiling point organic compounds in the bio oil, reported on a dry biomass basis.
dataset bio oil water content	light organics percent	float	percent	Fraction of low boiling point organic compounds in the bio oil, reported on a dry biomass basis.
dataset bio oil water content	reaction water percent	float	percent	Water generated during conversion (excluding feedstock moisture), reported on a dry biomass basis.
dataset biochar composition	carbon percent	float	percent	Elemental content of the biochar, reported on an ash-free dry basis.
dataset biochar composition	dataset biochar composition pkey	integer	dimensionless	A unique primary key identifier for each row in this table.
dataset biochar composition	feedstock moisture percent	float	percent	Moisture content of the digestate used to produce biochar sample.
dataset biochar composition	fixed carbon percent	float	percent	Fixed carbon content of the biochar on an ash free dry basis.
dataset biochar composition	hydrogen percent	float	percent	Elemental content of the biochar, reported on an ash-free dry basis.
dataset biochar composition	nitrogen percent	float	percent	Elemental content of the biochar, reported on an ash-free dry basis.
dataset biochar composition	oxygen percent	float	percent	Elemental content of the biochar, reported on an ash-free dry basis.
dataset biochar composition	replicate	float	number	Sample replicate of pyrolysis run at a specific feedstock moisture content.
dataset biochar composition	sulphur percent	float	percent	Elemental content of the biochar, reported on an ash-free dry basis.
dataset biochar composition	volatile matter percent	float	percent	Volatile matter content of the biochar on an ash free dry basis.
dataset pyrolysis yield dry biomass	char yield percent	float	percent	Yield of solid char produced during conversion, reported on a dry biomass basis.
dataset pyrolysis yield dry biomass	dataset pyrolysis yield dry biomass pkey	integer	dimensionless	A unique primary key identifier for each row in this table.
dataset pyrolysis yield dry biomass	feedstock moisture percent	float	percent	Moisture content of the feedstock on a dry biomass basis.
dataset pyrolysis yield dry biomass	heavy ends percent	float	percent	Fraction of high boiling point organic compounds in the bio oil, reported on a dry biomass basis.
dataset pyrolysis yield dry biomass	light ends no h2o percent	float	percent	Light ends fraction corrected to exclude water content, reported on a dry biomass basis.
dataset pyrolysis yield dry biomass	light ends percent	float	percent	Fraction of low boiling point organic compounds in the bio oil, reported on a dry biomass basis.
dataset pyrolysis yield dry biomass	liquid yield percent	float	percent	Yield of total liquid phase products produced from conversion, reported on a dry biomass basis
dataset pyrolysis yield dry biomass	non condensable gases percent	float	percent	Yield of non condensable gases produced during conversion, expressed as mass fraction of dry biomass.
dataset pyrolysis yield dry biomass	organics percent	float	percent	Total organic fraction in the bio oil (sum of organic components excluding water), reported on a dry biomass basis.
dataset pyrolysis yield dry biomass	reaction water percent	float	percent	Water generated during conversion (excluding feedstock moisture), reported on a dry biomass basis.
dataset pyrolysis yield gasses	dataset pyrolysis yield gasses pkey	integer	dimensionless	A unique primary key identifier for each row in this table.
dataset pyrolysis yield gasses	feedstock moisture percent	float	percent	Moisture content of the feedstock on a dry biomass basis.
dataset pyrolysis yield gasses	gas	string	NA	Name of the gas species measured.
dataset pyrolysis yield gasses	gas yield percent	float	percent	Yield of the specified gas species at the specified feedstock moisture content on a dry biomass basis.