Exploring feedstock structural components as predictors for physico-chemical biochar properties
5 affiliations
- 1BEST Bioenergy and Sustainable Technologies GmbH
- 2Institute of Chemical and Energy Engineering (IVET), BOKU University
- 3Department of Catalysis and Chemical Reaction Engineering, National Institute of Chemistry
- 4Faculty of Science, Department of Chemistry, Paderborn University
- 5Brantner Österreich GmbH
Abstract
To further improve the capabilities necessary to accurately predict biochar properties based on feedstock characteristics, a study correlating feedstock structural components with biochar properties was conducted. To produce biochar, ten different biomass feedstocks were sourced mostly from Austria. The feedstocks gathered were spruce chips; woodchips from broad-leaved forestry; wheat bran; Japanese knotweed; walnut shells; screening overflow from composting; and residues from Mary thistle, rapeseed, hemp, and poppy flower processing. These feedstocks were pyrolyzed at 500 and 700 °C under nitrogen (N2) atmosphere in a customized muffle furnace. The feedstocks were analyzed for their lignin, hemicellulose, cellulose, fat content, and other properties. Mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) was performed on the biochar samples, with the highest documented intruded volume being 3.64 cm3/g. Elemental recoveries in the biochar samples were determined and correlated with feedstock structural components (FSC). Additionally, the water solubility of biochar nutrient elements was determined, with K showing the highest solubility of 35.5 ± 18.5% at 700 °C. Elemental recoveries of C/H/N/Cl showed significant correlations with FSC (e.g., Cl showed a significant and strong negative correlation with cellulose, r = − 0.874/p < 0.01). Intruded volume as well as K solubility also showed significant correlations. These results indicate that feedstock structural components can serve as predictors for more biochar properties than currently used in the literature, although the limited sample size requires further research to confirm the findings presented here.
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BibTeX
@article{moser2026exploring,
title = {{Exploring feedstock structural components as predictors for physico-chemical biochar properties}},
author = {Konstantin Moser and Christoph Pfeifer and Elisabeth Wopienka and Jure Voglar and Anže Prašnikar and Blaž Likozar and Christian Weinberger and Michael Tiemann and Dilara Çubuk and Walter Haslinger},
journal = {Scientific Reports},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.1038/s41598-026-61427-4},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-61427-4},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Exploring feedstock structural components as predictors for physico-chemical biochar properties
AU - Konstantin Moser
AU - Christoph Pfeifer
AU - Elisabeth Wopienka
AU - Jure Voglar
AU - Anže Prašnikar
AU - Blaž Likozar
AU - Christian Weinberger
AU - Michael Tiemann
AU - Dilara Çubuk
AU - Walter Haslinger
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/01
JO - Scientific Reports
DO - 10.1038/s41598-026-61427-4
UR - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-61427-4
AB - To further improve the capabilities necessary to accurately predict biochar properties based on feedstock characteristics, a study correlating feedstock structural components with biochar properties was conducted. To produce biochar, ten different biomass feedstocks were sourced mostly from Austria. The feedstocks gathered were spruce chips; woodchips from broad-leaved forestry; wheat bran; Japanese knotweed; walnut shells; screening overflow from composting; and residues from Mary thistle, rapeseed, hemp, and poppy flower processing. These feedstocks were pyrolyzed at 500 and 700 °C under nitrogen (N2) atmosphere in a customized muffle furnace. The feedstocks were analyzed for their lignin, hemicellulose, cellulose, fat content, and other properties. Mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) was performed on the biochar samples, with the highest documented intruded volume being 3.64 cm3/g. Elemental recoveries in the biochar samples were determined and correlated with feedstock structural components (FSC). Additionally, the water solubility of biochar nutrient elements was determined, with K showing the highest solubility of 35.5 ± 18.5% at 700 °C. Elemental recoveries of C/H/N/Cl showed significant correlations with FSC (e.g., Cl showed a significant and strong negative correlation with cellulose, r = − 0.874/p < 0.01). Intruded volume as well as K solubility also showed significant correlations. These results indicate that feedstock structural components can serve as predictors for more biochar properties than currently used in the literature, although the limited sample size requires further research to confirm the findings presented here.
SN - 2045-2322
ER -