Fundamental investigation into characteristics of particulate matter produced from rapid pyrolysis of biochar in a drop-tube furnace at 1300 °C

Abstract This paper reports the emission characteristics of leaf and wood biochar (LC500 and WC500) pyrolysis in a drop tube furnace at 1300 °C in argon atmosphere. The char yields at 1300 °C are ∼ 65% and ∼ 73% respectively for LC500 and WC500. Over 60% Mg, Ca, S, Al, Fe and Si are retained in char after pyrolysis at 1300 °C. The retentions of Na and K in the char from LC500 pyrolysis are lower than those in the char from WC500 pyrolysis due to release via enhanced chlorination as a result of much higher Cl content in LC500. Particulate matter (PM) with aerodynamic diameter of