Development of biochar using non-direct firing system from gaharu-physical characteristics

Biochar has an ability to increase crop yield, reduce soil emission of greenhouse gases, decrease nutrient leaching, improve soil quality, reduce irrigation and fertilizer requirement, and store large amount of carbon. Gaharu that pyrolyzed at different temperatures results in different physical characteristic. Gaharu was firstly place manually in the reactor and pyrolyzed at temperature of 400,500, and 600°C. Produced biochar were further analyzed in observing its pH, surface area, adsorption uptake of dye, and surface morphology. pH, Brunaeuer, Emmett, and Teller (BET) Test, Methylene Blue (MB) Absorption Using UV-Vis Spectroscopy, and Microscope Scanning Images analysis provide physical data information of the produced biochar. pH increases from 6.34 to 9.25 with the increase of temperature. BET surface area, micropore surface area, and specific pore volume shows identical pattern as temperature increases which slightly increased between 400 and 500°C and drastically increased as it reached 600°C. The maximum BET surface area and micropore surface area were 131.5542 and 108.0602m²/g. The maximum specific pore volume observed was 0.042179 cm³/g. At 400°C, the amount of MB dye solution absorbed increased from 2495.63mg/g to 12489.30mg/g as the initial concentration of MB dye solution increases. Microscope scanning images represents the surface morphology of the biochar. Some pores are impeded by volatile and ash contents can reduce the pore volume. The physical data obtained shows biochar produced under different pyrolysis condition influences the physical characteristic of the produced biochar. Higher temperature result in higher surface area. Increase in surface area improve the adsorption characteristic of the biochar produced.