Thermal treatment of Himalayan balsam: Tar and biochar analysis

Pyrolysis synergy of municipal solid waste (MSW): A review

The synergistic pyrolysis of municipal solid waste (MSW) were recently explored. This review aims to provide an overview on the synergistic pyrolysis studies of MSW, focusing on the synergy occurred during co-pyrolysis of different constituents of MSW. The interactions of intermediates released during pyrolysis can shift end product distributions, accelerate pyrolysis rates, and preferred production of specific compounds, which were categorized into four basic types with discussions. The pyrolysis synergy is proposed to be the key for success of pyrolytic practice of MSW that can handle the waste with maximal resource recovery and minimal carbon emission.

Dark fermentation production of volatile fatty acids from glucose with biochar amended biological consortium

Effects of adding biochars on dark fermentation production of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) from glucose were investigated. Nine biochars were synthesized and applied, together with an activated carbon, as the testing amendment to enhance preferable fermentation. Biochars were porous materials with internal pores and excess surface functional groups, which would lead to enrichment of acetate over butyrate in the VFA production. Biochar coconut and biochar longan shell showed excess functional groups and high bulk internal crystallinity, presented 109.6% and 71.8% enrichments of acetate production, respectively. The syntrophic growth of fermentative bacteria and homoacetogens on biochar surfaces via direct interspecies electron transfer mechanism was assumed to interpret the noted enhanced acetate production. The excess functional groups on biochar surface to facilitate biofilm development and the high crystallinity of biochar bulk to ease electron transfer favored the production of acetate.