Evaluating the effect of biomass condition on the properties of biochars derived from sweet lime fruit waste

The push for a circular economy and sustainable practices has driven the development of various technologies for reusing and transforming waste materials into value-added products. Among these, converting waste biomass into biochar has gained recognition as an efficient approach to waste management. This experimental study investigated four different biomass waste types derived from sweet lime biomass as possible feedstock for the production of biochar. The biochars, produced at moderately low temperatures ranging from 310 to 365°C, were characterized using physicochemical analysis, Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray fluorescence, and BET surface area analysis. The biochars exhibited a high carbon content ranging from 65.6% to 72.1% and surface areas between 181 and 285 m2/g. The elemental analysis showed that the most common oxide compositions in all of the biochar samples were CaO and K₂O, with trace levels of numerous other nutrients. These characteristics point to possible uses in agriculture for nutrient enrichment and soil acidity neutralization, CO2 storage, and adsorbents for the adsorption of contaminants. This study seeks to advance knowledge of sustainable waste management using sweet lime waste and explores the properties and potential applications of the resulting biochar.