Mitigating dust and air pollution from open-field rice straw burning through biochar production using an integrated biomass gasifier and burner

Abstract

Biochar, a carbon-rich byproduct of rice straw pyrolysis, offers a sustainable alternative to open-field burning by reducing emissions and enhancing carbon sequestration. This study optimized biochar production at 550 °C for 4 hours, yielding 61 % carbon content with a 0.92 stability factor. Each batch retains 4.382 kg of carbon (16.07 kg CO 2 eq), with an annual sequestration of 5.863 tons CO 2 eq. The biomass gasifier and burner (BGB) system reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 65 % and total suspended particulates (TSP) by 89 %, meeting environmental standards. These results highlight biochar's role in mitigating climate change and providing farmers with a cleaner alternative to conventional burning practices.