• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.5-15
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• 2022

In this study, heated tobacco biomass was prepared as an active material for supercapacitor device. Retrieved tobacco leaf from the heated tobacco was carbonized at various temperature(800/850/950℃). Carbonized tobacco leaf material synthesized at 850℃ exhibited the highest C/O ratio, indicating the finest carbon quality. In addition, polypyrrole was coated onto the carbonized leaf material for increasing the electrochemical performance via low-temperature polymerization method. As-synthesized carbonized leaf material at 850℃(CTL-850)-based electrode and polypyrrole-coated carbonized leaf material(CTL-850/PPy)-based electrode displayed outstanding specific capacitances of 100.2 and 155.3F g^-1 at 1 A g^-1 with opertaing window of -1.0V and 1.0V. Asymmetric supercapacitor device, assembled with CTL-850 as the negative electrode and CTL-850/PPy as the positive electrode, manifested specific capacitance of 31.1F g^-1(@1 A g^-1) with widened operating voltage window of 2.0V. Moreover, as-prepared asymmetric supercapacitor device was able to lighten up the RED Led (1.8V), suggesting the high capacitance and extension of operating voltage window. The result of this research may help to pave the new possibility toward preparing the effective energy storage device material recycling the biomass.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.41 no.12
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• pp.336-344
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• 2017

Background: Because of climate change, interest in the development of carbon pools has increased. In agricultural ecosystems, which can be more intensively managed than forests, measures to control carbon dioxide ($CO_2$) emission and absorption levels can be applied relatively easily. However, crop residues may be released into the atmosphere by decomposition or combustion. If we can develop scientific management techniques that enable these residues to be stocked on farmland, then it would be possible to convert farmlands from carbon emission sources to carbon pools. We analyzed and investigated soil respiration (Rs) rate characteristics according to input of carbonized residue of red peppers (Capsicum annuum L.), a widely grown crop in Korea, as a technique for increasing farmland carbon stock. Results: Rs rate in the carbonized biomass (CB) section was $226.7mg\;CO_2\;m^{-2}h^{-1}$, which was 18.1% lower than the $276.9mg\;CO_2\;m^{-2}h^{-1}$ from the red pepper residue biomass (RB) section. The Rs rate of the control was $184.1mg\;CO_2\;m^{-2}h^{-1}$. In the following year, Rs in the CB section was $204.0mg\;CO_2\;m{-2}h^{-1}$, which was 38.2% lower than the $330.1mg\;CO_2\;m^{-2}h^{-1}$ from the RB section; the control emitted $198.6mg\;CO_2\;m^{-2}h^{-1}$. Correlation between Rs and soil temperature ((Ts) at a depth of 5 cm) was $R^2=0.51$ in the RB section, which was higher than the other experimental sections. A comparison of annual decomposition rates between RB and CB showed a large difference, 41.4 and 9.7%, respectively. The results showed that carbonization of red pepper residues reduced the rates of decomposition and Rs. Conclusions: The present study confirmed that the Rs rate can be reduced by carbonization of residue biomass and putting it in the soil and that the Rs rate and Ts (5 cm) were positively correlated. Based on the results, it was determined that approximately $1.2t\;C\;ha^{-1}$ were sequestered in the soil in the first year and $3.0t\;C\;ha^{-1}$ were stored the following year. Therefore, approximately $1.5t\;C\;ha^{-1}year^{-1}$ are expected to be stocked in the soil, making it possible to develop farmlands into carbon pools.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.381-389
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• 2014

$NH_4$-N contents in the soil treated were relatively high in the initial stages, but rapidly decreased at 124 days after treatment. $NO_3$-N contents were shown to be opposite patterns of $NH_4$-N contents. $CO_2$ emissions in the non-treatment and Carbonized rice hull treatment with application of NPK fertilizers decreased by 43.7 and 21.9% relative to the non-application of NPK fertilizer plot except 5.4% increasement in the pig manure compost treatment. $N_2O$ emissions of the non-application, the Expander rice hull application, and bio-char treatment increased by 90, 25, and 21.4%, respectively, but decreased by 54.2% in the pig manure compost treatment applied with NPK fertilizers compared with the NPK fertilizer non-application plot.

• Carbon letters
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.127-131
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• 2015

In this work, highly porous carbons were prepared by chemical activation of carbonized biomass-derived aerogels. These aerogels were synthesized from watermelon flesh using a hydrothermal reaction. After carbonization, chemical activation was conducted using potassium hydroxide to enhance the specific surface area and microporosity. The micro-structural properties and morphologies were measured by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy, respectively. The specific surface area and microporosity were investigated by $N_2$/77 K adsorption-desorption isotherms using the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller method and Barrett-Joyner-Halenda equation, respectively. Hydrogen storage capacity was dependent on the activation temperature. The highest capacity of 2.7 wt% at 77 K and 1 bar was obtained with an activation temperature of $900^{\circ}C$.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.153-160
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• 2023

In this study, biochar was produced from biomass waste, and its methylene blue adsorption capacity was evaluated. The major components of the biomass were cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. Ash content was high in waste wood. Carbonization yield decreased as carbonization temperature increased, as did hydrogen and oxygen content, but carbon content increased. Increased carbonization temperature also increased the specific surface area and micropores of biochar. At 600 ℃, biochar had the highest specific surface area (216.15~301.80 m² /g). As a result of methylene blue adsorption on biochar carbonized at 600 ℃, oak, waste wood, and pruned apple tree branches fit the Freundlich model, while pruned peach tree branches fit the Langmuir model. In the adsorption kinetics of methylene blue on biochar, oak and pruned peach tree branches fit a pseudo-first-order model, while waste wood and pruned apple tree branches fit a pseudo-second-order model.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.45-52
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• 2014

Torrefaction and hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) are productive methods to reclaim energy from lignocellulosic biomass. The hydrophobic, homogenized, energy dense and carbon rich solid fuel can be obtain from torrefaction and hydrothermal carbonization. Dead leaves were carbonized in a stainless steel reactor of volume 200 ml with torrefaction ($250-270^{\circ}C$) for 120 minutes and hydrothermal carbonization ($200-250^{\circ}C$) for 30 minutes, with mass yield solid fuel ranging from 57-70% and energy content from 16.81MJ/kg to 22.01 MJ/kg compare to the biomass. The char produced from torrefaction process possess high energy content than hydrothermal carbonization. The highest energy yield of 89.96% was obtained by torrefaction at $250^{\circ}C$. The energy densification ratio fluctuated in between 1.15 to 1.30. On the basis of pore size distribution of the chars, the definition of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) was used as a classification standard. The pore diameter was ranging within 11.09-19 nm which play important role in water holding capacity in soil. Larger pores can hold water and provide passage for small pores. Therefore, it can be concluded that high pore size char can be obtained my HTC process and high energy content char of 22.01 MJ/Kg with 34.04% increase in energy can be obtain by torrefaction process.

• Carbon letters
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.224-234
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• 2010

Four activated carbons were produced by two-stage process as followings; semi-carbonization of indigenous biomass waste, i.e. cotton stalks, followed by chemical activation with KOH under various activation temperatures and chemical ratios of KOH to semi-carbonized cotton stalks (CCS). The surface area, total pore volume and average pore diameter were evaluated by $N_2$-adsorption at 77 K. The surface morphology and oxygen functional groups were determined by SEM and FTIR, respectively. Batch equilibrium and kinetic studies were carried out by using a basic dye, methylene blue as a probe molecule to evaluate the adsorption capacity and mechanism over the produced carbons. The obtained activated carbon (CCS-1K800) exhibited highly microporous structure with high surface area of 950 $m^2/g$, total pore volume of 0.423 $cm^3/g$ and average pore diameter of 17.8 ${\AA}$. The isotherm data fitted well to the Langmuir isotherm with monolayer adsorption capacity of 222 mg/g for CCS-1K800. The kinetic data obtained at different concentrations were analyzed using a pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order and intraparticle diffusion equations. The pseudo-second-order model fitted better for kinetic removal of MB dye. The results indicate that such laboratory carbons could be employed as low cost alternative to commercial carbons in wastewater treatment.

• Carbon letters
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• v.25
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• pp.103-112
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• 2018

Hierarchically porous, chemically activated carbon materials are readily derived from biomass using hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) and chemical activation processes. In this study, empty fruit bunches (EFB) were chosen as the carbon source due to their sustainability, high lignin-content, abundance, and low cost. The lignin content in the EFB was condensed and carbonized into a bulk non-porous solid via the HTC process, and then transformed into a hierarchical porous structure consisting of macro- and micropores by chemical activation. As confirmed by various characterization results, the optimum activation temperature for supercapacitor applications was determined to be $700^{\circ}C$. The enhanced capacitive performance is attributed to the textural property of the extremely high specific surface area of $2861.4m^2\;g^{-1}$. The prepared material exhibited hierarchical porosity and surface features with oxygen functionalities, such as carboxyl and hydroxyl groups, suitable for pseudocapacitance. Finally, the as-optimized nanoporous carbons exhibited remarkable capacitive performance, with a specific capacitance of $402.3F\;g^{-1}$ at $0.5A\;g^{-1}$, a good rate capability of 79.8% at current densities from $0.5A\;g^{-1}$ to $10A\;g^{-1}$, and excellent life cycle behavior of 10,000 cycles with 96.5% capacitance retention at $20A\;g^{-1}$.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.171-177
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• 2020

BACKGROUND: Recently, biomass conversion from agricultural wastes to carbon-rich materials such as biochar has been recognized as a promising option to maintain or increase soil productivity, reduce nutrient losses, and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions from the agro-ecosystem. This experiment was conducted to select an optimum conditions for enhancing the NH₄-N adsorption capacity of rice hull activated biochar. METHODS AND RESULTS: For deciding the proper molarity of KOH for enhancing its porosity, biochars treated with different molarity of KOH (0, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8) were carbonized at 600℃ in the reactor. The maximum adsorption capacity was 1.464 mg g^-1, and an optimum molarity was selected to be 6 M KOH. For the effect of adsorption capacity to different carbonized temperatures, 6 M KOH-treated biochar was carbonized at 600℃ and 800℃ under the pyrolysis system. The result has shown that the maximum adsorption capacity was 1.76 mg g^-1 in the rice hull activated biochar treated with 6 M KOH at 600℃ of pyrolysis temperature, while its non-treated biochar was 1.17 mg g^-1. The adsorption rate in the rice hull activated biochar treated with 6 M KOH at 600℃ was increased at 62.18% compared to that of the control. Adsorption of NH₄-N in the rice hull activated biochar was well suited for the Langmuir model because it was observed that dimensionless constant (R_L) was 0.97 and 0.66 at 600℃ and 800℃ of pyrolysis temperatures, respectively. The maximum adsorption amount (q_m) and the bond strength constants (b) were 0.092 mg g^-1 and 0.001 mg L^-1, respectively, for the rice hull activated biochar treated with 6 M KOH at 600℃ of pyrolysis. CONCLUSION: Optimum condition of rice hull activated biochar was 6M KOH at 600℃ of pyrolysis temperature.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.16-19
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• 2012

Increasing rice grain yield is critical for feeding rapid increasing of Asian population. However, global warming effect may be negative for sustainable rice production. Therefore it is essential to develop technologies not only for increasing grain yield but also for reducing global warming effect. Biochar, which is carbonized biomass, has a great potential of carbon sequestration and soil quality improvement, which can contribute grain yield increasing. In this study, rice yield responses to biochar application on the rice cropping system were evaluated with field experiments under different water management practices at the research farm of the University of Missouri-Columbia Delta Research Center, Portageville, MO. Biochar (i.e., $4Mg\;ha^{-1}$) was produced using field scale pyrolyzer and incorporated into the field 4 months prior to planting. Rice was grown under three different water management practices. Result showed that no significant yield difference was found in the biochar application plots compared to rice hull and control plots from the 2 years field study at the very fertile soil. However, rainfed management results in severe reduction of yield. Research concludes that the biochar application does not significantly influence on rice yield increasing especially for very fertile soils.