Effect of salt impregnation on the properties of orange albedo biochar

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of impregnation with zinc chloride on the characteristics of orange albedo biochar produced in a top-lit updraft biomass conversion reactor with retort heating. The study was done in a bid to improve the porosity and surface area of the orange albedo biochar. The impregnated biochar was impregnated with zinc chloride salt (impregnation ratio = 1:1 for 24 h) before carbonization. Three techniques of characterization (SEM-EDS, FTIR, and BET) were used to characterize the biochars to determine their porosity, chemical composition, morphology, and chemistry. The un-impregnated biochar and the impregnated biochar have a specific surface area of 114.036 m 2 /g and 148.030 m 2 /g, respectively, and both biochars are mesoporous.