Optimising production of a biochar made from conifer brash and investigation of its potential for phosphate and ammonia removal

As a lignocellulose biomass, waste conifer brash (waste treetops and branches) from felled afforested peatland sites can be converted to biochar through pyrolysis, thus creating potentially useful product. Here, we propose that ‘forest-to-bog’ restoration conversion biochar, could utilised for nutrient (PO43−-P NH4+-N) removal at such sites, or within the water sector. first step, explore factors involved in production will result high adsorption efficiency pyrolysis yield low cost (using Plackett-Burman experimental design (PBD)). Central composite (CCD) was used further optimisation of time temperature as two most significant factors. Model predictions an optimised (OB) suggested conditions 500 °C 30 min achieve highest 34.75 %, lowest 0.37 £ /kg, PO43−-P NH4+-N 9.9 % 65.2 respectively. Additionally, OB morphology, structure surface chemistry were characterised using different instrumental techniques which showed typical features wood-based biochar. While did remove solution (due presence negatively charged functional groups), it not amounts PO43--P, indeed leached PO43--P back into solution. Therefore, unmodified produced fulfil aim removing these key pollutants use improving quality sites. To address this challenge, functionalised increase its affinity toward both ions.