COMPARATIVE STUDY OF BIOCHAR FROM SHORT ROTATION COPPICE FOR OPTIMIZATION OF PHYTOEXTRACTION BY-PRODUCTS MANAGEMENT

Phytoremediation technique is of growing interest in the restoration of trace elements contaminated soils. An integrated approach, combining land restoration and biomass post-processing, using a pyrolysis process for material and/or energy recovery, could allow for effective realization of such a process. The dependence of yields, chemical and structural characteristics of char on the biomass feedstock and pyrolysis thermal conditions are important features to be evaluated to explore the possible applications of such a product. In this framework, a comparative study of steam assisted slow pyrolysis of five biomasses has been carried at 873 K. Results demonstrate that for applications requiring high specific surface area Populus Nigra. On the contrary, if the goal is the maximization of the energy recovery in the char, Eucalyptus represents the best choice.