CO2-mediated chicken manure biochar manipulation for biodiesel production

Abstract

This study employs chicken manure as a feedstock to produce different forms of energy to abate environmental burdens. To achieve ultimate carbon management, the possible utilization of CO₂ during pyrolysis of chicken manure was fundamentally investigated. The roles of CO₂ in pyrolysis of chicken manure include enhanced thermal cracking and shifting of the carbon distribution via reaction between volatile organic compounds and CO₂. The identified roles induced by CO₂ were catalytically enhanced because of the inorganic content in the feedstock. The morphology of biochar created from the chicken manure pyrolysis was significantly affected by CO₂. For example, a well-developed pore structure was observed in the biochar developed under a CO₂ environment; this biochar was used as an effective porous material for biodiesel synthesis.

Keywords: Biochar; Carbon dioxide; Chicken manure; Pyrolysis; Waste-to-energy.