TEMPERATURE AND ITS INFLUENCE ON THE CHARACTERISTICS OF BIOCHAR PRODUCED FROM PLANTAIN TRUNKS AGRO-WASTES

Abstract

The effects of different pyrolytic temperatures on char produced from plantain trunks were characterized for its pH, Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), Ash, and Volatile matter contents. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) indicated that the pyrolysis can be done between a temperature of 48.55 to 553^oC for 30 mins at a nitrogen flow rate of 10^oC/mins. The initial and the final decomposition temperature (IDT and FDT) for the characterization were 250^oC and 550^oC). Results showed that pyrolysis of plantain trunk significantly (p<0.05) increases its pH from 8.37±0.01 (raw state) to 10.75±0.03 % and 10.96±0.03, P content decreases from 2.70±0.06 % (raw state) to 2.19±0.02 and 1.91±0.01% while N content decrease from 1.08±0.02 (raw state) to 0.93±0.03 % and 0.75±0.03 %. Ash content increases from 23.36±0.03 (raw state) to 70.96±0.03% and 36.46±0.29 %, while the volatile matter decreases from 76.74±0.14 (raw state) to 29.01±0.01 % and 63.54±0.29 %, at 250^oC to 550^oC respectively.