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.