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Transforming Biomass Waste Into Hydrochars and Porous Activated Carbon: A Characterization Study Publisher



Chaudhary M2 ; Chaudhary S1 ; Chaubey S1 ; Da Paixao Cansado IP3 ; Dehghani MH4, 5 ; Tyagi I6 ; Gaur R7
Authors
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Authors Affiliations
  1. 1. Department of Chemistry, Gurukula Kangri (Deemed to be University), Haridwar 249404, India
  2. 2. Department of Chemistry, Hariom Saraswati P.G. College, Haridwar, Dhanauri, 247667, India
  3. 3. MED—Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development & Change—Global Change and Sustainability Institute and Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, School of Science and Technology, University of Evora, Rua Romao Ramalho, nº 59, Evora, 7000-671, Portugal
  4. 4. Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, 1416634793, Iran
  5. 5. Center for Solid Waste Research, Institute for Environmental Research, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, 1416634793, Iran
  6. 6. Centre for DNA Taxonomy, Molecular Systematics Division, Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata, 700053, India
  7. 7. Department of Chemistry, School of Energy Technology, Pandit Deendayal Energy University, Knowledge Corridor, Gandhinagar, Raisan, 382426, India

Source: Resources Published:2025


Abstract

Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) is an environmentally friendly process for transforming biomass into sustainable hydrochar, which is a carbon-rich material with a variety of potential applications. Herein, Tectona grandis seeds (TGs) were transformed into hydrochars using HTC at low temperatures (180–250 °C) and autogenous pressure. The prepared hydrochars were rich in oxygenated functional groups. The optimized hydrochar, HC-230-4 (prepared at 230 °C, for 4 h), presented a ratio of H/C = 0.95 and O/C = 0.29, an improved degree of coalification, and a high heating value (26.53 MJ kg−1), which can replace bituminous coals in the power sector. The prepared hydrochar was further activated in the presence of CO2 to prepare activated carbon (AC). XRD, TGA, FTIR, FE-SEM, and BET techniques were used to characterize raw biomass (TGs), hydrochar, and ACs, to identify the potential applications for the developed materials. BET studies revealed that the hydrochar has limited porosity, with a low surface area (14.41 m2g−1) and porous volume. On the other hand, the derived AC (AC-850-5) has a high surface area (729.70 m2g−1) and appreciable total and microporous volumes (0.392 cm3g−1 and 0.286 cm3g−1). The use of biomass, mainly waste biomass, for the production of carbon-rich materials is an effective strategy for managing and valorizing waste biomass resources, reducing environmental pollution, and improving sustainability, being in line with the principles of circularity. © 2025 by the authors.
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