An overview of the composition and application of biomass ash. Part 1. Phase-mineral and chemical composition and classification

While a large-scale soil amendment of biochars continues to receive interest for enhancing crop yields and to remediate contaminated sites, systematic study is lacking in how biochar properties translate into purported functions such as heavy metal sequestration. In this study, cottonseed hulls were pyrolyzed at five temperatures (200, 350, 500, 650, and 800 °C) and characterized for the yield, moisture, ash, volatile matter, and fixed carbon contents, elemental composition (CHNSO), BET surface area, pH, pHpzc, and by ATR-FTIR. The characterization results were compared with the literature values for additional source materials: grass, wood, pine needle, and broiler litter-derived biochars with and without post-treatments. At respective pyrolysis temperatures, cottonseed hull chars had ash content in between grass and wood chars, and significantly lower BET surface area in comparison to other plant source materials considered. The N:C ratio reached a maximum between 300 and 400 °C for all biomass sources ...

Influence of pyrolysis temperature on biochar property and function as a heavy metal sorbent in soil.

A simple method for production of pure silica from rice hull ash

Volatile oil price and growing emphasis on environmental conservation have stimulated the development and utilisation of biomass as a vital source of renewable energy. In reducing the global dependency on fossil fuels, rice husk and rice straw which are the widely abundant agricultural wastes from the rice industry have a vital role to play. This paper reviews the key aspects of the utilisation of rice husk and rice straw as important sources of renewable energy. The paper provides some essential background information that includes the physical and chemical characteristics that dictates the quality of these rice biomasses. This paper also describes the various chemical and physical pretreatment techniques that can facilitate handling and transportation of rice straw and husk. Finally, the paper presents the state-of-the-art on thermo-chemical and bio-chemical technologies to convert rice husk and rice straw into energy.

A review on utilisation of biomass from rice industry as a source of renewable energy

Adsorptive removal of malachite green dye from aqueous solution by bagasse fly ash and activated carbon-kinetic study and equilibrium isotherm analyses

An improved method for production of silica from rice hull ash.

Rice hulls, a waste coproduct of the rice industry, is composed of 20% silica. The objectives of this study were to develop a method to recover silica from rice hull ash and produce silica gel, and to determine the physical and chemical properties of the rice hull silica gel (RHSG) relative to Trisyl 300, a commercial silica gel. Rice hull ash consisting of 61% silica and 36% carbon was dispersed in sodium hydroxide to dissolve the silica and produce a sodium silicate solution. The latter was titrated to pH 7 with 1M sulfuric acid to obtain a gel at neutral pH. The RHSG was aged, washed, and dried under specific conditions to get a final product that was slightly basic and had a moisture content >65%. Energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry indicated that silicon was the most abundant element present in RHSG and Trisyl 300. Elemental analyses by inductively coupled plasma emission spectroscopy indicated a greater concentration of sodium and sulfur in RHSG relative to that in Trisyl 300. RHSG surface...

Silica gel from rice hull ash : Preparation and characterization

Studies demonstrated that free fatty acids can be adsorbed from a soybean oil/hexane miscella by inorganic rice hull ash. A 1% dose was effective in diminishing free fatty acid concentrations but acid activation reduced the adsorption. Binding of free fatty acids followed a Freundlich isotherm with smaller doses of ash adsorbing more efficiently. Addition of isopropanol to the miscella promoted the adsorption, while water deactivation of the ash had no effect, possibly because water occupied sites not accessible to free fatty acids. Impaired adsorption behavior of ash heated above 700°C could have been due to disruption of the crystal form. The adsorption behavior of rice hull ash may be more fully understood with a better knowledge of adsorbent structure.

Adsorption of soy oil free fatty acids by rice hull ash

The structure and composition of processed rice hull ash were studied to better understand its adsorption of the soy oil components, lutein and free fatty acids. The silica-rich ash was composed largely of low order cristobalite and tridymite in the form of opal CT, with variable particle size. On heating of the ash there was conversion to a more ordered form of opal C, fusing of particles, and loss of potassium. Acid washing, following heating, also removed potassium and slightly reduced particle size further. Crystal form, particle size, particle fusion and potassium content may be important factors influencing ash adsorption of soy oil components.

A. Proctor

Papers

A simple method for production of pure silica from rice hull ash

An improved method for production of silica from rice hull ash.

Silica gel from rice hull ash : Preparation and characterization

Adsorption of soy oil free fatty acids by rice hull ash

X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope studies of processed rice hull silica