129Xe NMR studies of biochar made from biobased materials

Authors: Cheng, Huai; MAURI, MICHELE - University Of Milan; SIMONUTTI, ROBERTO - University Of Milan; FARINA, MATTEO - University Of Milan; PATRIARCA, GIORGIO - University Of Milan; Klasson, K Thomas

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/5/2015
Publication Date: 12/15/2015
Citation: Cheng, H.N., Mauri, M., Simonutti, R., Farina, M., Patriarca, G., Klasson, K.T. 2015. 129Xe NMR studies of biochar made from biobased materials (Abstract). Pacifichem on-line program: Paper No. 1304.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Biochar is created by pyrolysis of biobased materials under controlled oxidative environments. The product is charcoal-like and can be used as filtration medium, sequestrant for metallic ions, soil conditioner, and other applications. In our work we have found 129Xe NMR to be an excellent technique to study micropores in biochar. Thus, for biochar from pecan shells the 129Xe chemical shift in biochar was found to vary linearly with the xenon pressure; from the data an estimate of about 8-9 Å could be proposed for the average pore diameter in pecan shell-based biochar. This size agrees with the value obtained from BET data. Through T1 and EXSY experiments, the motion and the diffusion of xenon atoms in and out of the micropores can be studied, providing additional information on the accessibility of the pore system. Furthermore, correlations of 129Xe NMR data with the carbonization process conditions were also obtained.