Comprehensive study of thermochemical conversion of biomass okara into biochar

Pyrolysis is one of the thermal conversion pathways to convert biomass into biochar. The characteristic of biochar depends on three parameters, i.e., before pyrolysis (drying methods of biomass), during pyrolysis (temperature), and after pyrolysis (activation agents). Thermal and non-thermal drying methods remarkably affected the psychochemical properties of biomass. Pyrolysis temperature significantly governed the biochar production. Temperature above 500 °C was required to convert biomass okara into biochar. Activation agent determined the pore characteristic of biochar. FT-IR, XRD, TGA-DSC, SEM, Raman, XRF, CHNOS Analyzer, Surface area analysis, and TEM characterizations of material confirmed that implemented the three parameters simultaneously were essential to achieved different properties of biochar that could be used in environmental remediation or energy-oriented field.