Biochar production from arecanut waste

Biochar is a solid material derived from biomass carbonization by destructive distillation. It may be added to soils with the intention to improve soil functions and to reduce emissions from biomass that naturally degrade to greenhouse gases. Biochar also has appreciable carbon sequestration value. These properties are measurable and verifiable in a characterization scheme or in a carbon emission compensating protocol. Apart from soil carbon sequestration, thermal conversion of biomass like Areca catechu to biochar can become a sustainable strategy for biomass management. In the present study areca nut shell waste was charred at different temperatures ranging from 200 to 500°C with a residence time of 30 to 120 minutes. Biochar mass yield and volatile solids decreased from 82.97 to 37.06 per cent and from 86.37 to 49.64 per cent when the pyrolytic temperatures increased from 350 to 400°C with the residence time of 15 to 75 minutes respectively.