# Eucalyptus Bark Biochar: Production and Characterization

## TL;DR

This paper explores using Eucalyptus bark to make biochar, which can improve soil and sequester carbon, with the best results at 450°C.

## Contribution

The study introduces a sustainable method for producing biochar from Eucalyptus bark, highlighting its potential for soil amendment.

## Key findings

- Biochar produced at 450°C has high fixed carbon content, elevated pH, and thermal stability.
- Eucalyptus bark shows maximum degradation at 380°C, confirmed by thermal analysis.
- Higher pyrolysis temperatures increase fixed carbon but decrease gravimetric yield.

## Abstract

In recent years, biochar has garnered increasing attention
due
to its potential applications in soil amendment, adsorption, and carbon
sequestration, which has driven a growing research interest in these
areas. Moreover, lignocellulosic biomass is the primary feedstock
for biochar production, typically obtained through pyrolysis under
limited O2 conditions. Within this framework, the present
study proposes a sustainable approach that valorizes an environmental
byproduct from the forestry sectorEucalyptus barkfor biochar production, aiming to improve soil properties
through carbon and mineral supply and pH regulation. The raw material
was characterized by determining its proximate composition, as well
as its structural and chemical features (XRD and FTIR) and thermal
behavior (TGA/DTG). After this initial characterization and the definition
of suitable pyrolysis conditions, four treatments were carried out
at 300 °C, 350 °C, 400 °C, and 450 °C with a fixed
residence time of 2 h. Proximate analysis and yield measurements revealed
an inverse relationship between fixed carbon content and gravimetric
yield. Furthermore, XRD, FTIR, and TGA analyses confirmed chemical
and structural transformations occurring during the thermochemical
conversion process. Dynamic and isothermal thermogravimetric tests
under an inert atmosphere were conducted to simulate the parameters
used in a muffle furnace for larger-scale production. The maximum
degradation rate temperature (T_max) of Eucalyptus bark was identified as 380 °C, determined from the DTG curve
and corroborated by the TG curve. Overall, the biochar produced at
450 °C stood out for its high fixed carbon content, elevated
pH, lower volatile matter, and greater thermal stability, which are
associated with its amorphous and aromatized structure.