Date of Award
1-1-2012
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
M.S. in Engineering Science
Department
Chemical Engineering
First Advisor
Wei-Yin Chen
Second Advisor
Clint Williford
Third Advisor
Ajit Sadana
Relational Format
dissertation/thesis
Abstract
With interest in the changes that may occur to the carbonaceous portion of biochar obtain through the pyrolysis of biomass, the simple interaction between CO2 and biochar with water or a mixture of water and ethanol as hydrogen donor resulted in three significant observations. These reactions were carried out thermally at 333K and photochemically by simulating energy from the with a xenon lamp. The photochemical reaction involving biochar, CO2 with water or a mixture of water and ethanol as hydrogen donor led to a decrease in oxygen content of the parent biochar material, as observed by an increase in the H/O and C/O ratios of the product material, and a 20 percent increase in heating value. This being suggestive of photo-reduction as assisted by TiO2 or silicates present in biochar could be modeled by an aryl lactone present in the complex chemical structure of biochar. FTIR spectra of the product material obtained after the thermal treatment was also suggestive of carboxylation reaction occurring as modeled by the phenol and diaryl ether present in the complex structure of biochar. Finally this simple process resulted in a significant increase in the surface area of the treated materials compared to the parent material.
Recommended Citation
Okinedo, Eneruvie Uyoyou, "Thermal and Photochemical Interaction of CO2 with Biochar" (2012). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 1285.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/etd/1285
Concentration/Emphasis
Emphasis: Chemical Engineering