Applying microwave vacuum pyrolysis to design moisture retention and pH neutralizing palm kernel shell biochar for mushroom production

Wan Adibah Wan Mahari; Wai Lun Nam; Christian Sonne; Wanxi Peng; Xue Yee Phang; Rock Keey Liew; Peter Nai Yuh Yek; Xie Yi Lee; Ou Wei Wen; Pau Loke Show; Wei-Hsin Chen; Jo-Shu Chang; Su Shiung Lam

doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2020.123572

Applying microwave vacuum pyrolysis to design moisture retention and pH neutralizing palm kernel shell biochar for mushroom production

Bioresour Technol. 2020 Sep:312:123572. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2020.123572. Epub 2020 May 23.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Henan Province Engineering Research Center for Biomass Value-added Products, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China; Pyrolysis Technology Research Group, Institute of Tropical Aquaculture and Fisheries (Akuatrop), Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia.
² Pyrolysis Technology Research Group, Institute of Tropical Aquaculture and Fisheries (Akuatrop), Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia.
³ Aarhus University, Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark.
⁴ Henan Province Engineering Research Center for Biomass Value-added Products, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China.
⁵ NV WESTERN PLT, No. 208B, Jalan Macalister, Georgetown, Pulau Pinang 10400, Malaysia.
⁶ Pyrolysis Technology Research Group, Institute of Tropical Aquaculture and Fisheries (Akuatrop), Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia; University College of Technology Sarawak, Department of Engineering, 96000 Sibu, Sarawak, Malaysia.
⁷ Siong Hoong Agro Organic Farm, Jalan Tanggul, Kg Bukit Kuan, 21040 Marang, Terengganu, Malaysia.
⁸ Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Nottingham Malaysia, Jalan Broga, 43500 Semenyih, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.
⁹ Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan; Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, College of Engineering, Tunghai University, Taichung 407, Taiwan; Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Chin-Yi University of Technology, Taichung 411, Taiwan.
¹⁰ Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, College of Engineering, Tunghai University, Taichung 407, Taiwan; Department of Chemical Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan.
¹¹ Pyrolysis Technology Research Group, Institute of Tropical Aquaculture and Fisheries (Akuatrop), Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia; Henan Province Engineering Research Center for Biomass Value-added Products, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China. Electronic address: lam@umt.edu.my.

PMID: 32470829
DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2020.123572

Abstract

Microwave vacuum pyrolysis of palm kernel shell was examined to produce engineered biochar for application as additive in agriculture application. The pyrolysis approach, performed at 750 W of microwave power, produced higher yield of porous biochar (28 wt%) with high surface area (270 cm²/g) compared to the yield obtained by conventional approach (<23 wt%). Addition of the porous biochar in mushroom substrate showed increased moisture content (99%) compared to the substrate without biochar (96%). The mushroom substrate added with biochar (150 g) was optimal in shortening formation, growth, and full colonization of the mycelium within one month. Using 2.5% of the biochar in mushroom substrate desirably maintained the optimum pH level (6.8-7) during the mycelium colonization period, leading to high mycelium growth (up to 91%) and mushroom yield (up to 280 g). The engineered biochar shows great potential as moisture retention and neutralizing agent in mushroom cultivation.

Keywords: Biochar; Mushroom cultivation; Oyster mushroom; Pyrolysis; Vacuum.

MeSH terms

Agaricales*
Charcoal
Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
Microwaves
Pyrolysis*
Vacuum

Substances

biochar
Charcoal