Food Waste Pyrolysis: Production and Characterization of Biochars for Environmental Applications

The production of biochars from food waste through four different pyrolysis processes (producing FWBC, FWSB, FWRB, and HWFB, respectively) was investigated. The resulting biochars were thoroughly characterized for their physicochemical properties, including surface area, pore size distribution, elemental composition, and functional groups. Notably, the FWBC exhibited the highest surface area and total pore volume, while the FWRB displayed the highest carbon content. The FWSB and HWFB demonstrated similar properties with lower surface area and pore volume compared to the FWBC and FWRB. Furthermore, the adsorption capacity of these biochars for heavy metals was assessed, with the FWBC showcasing the highest adsorption capacity. The findings suggest that pyrolysis of food waste can yield biochars with diverse properties, holding potential for various applications, particularly in soil remediation and other environmental applications.