Bio- and hydrochars from rice straw and pig manure: Inter-comparison

- Bio- and hydrochars were obtained by thermal treatment of rice straw and pig manure.
- Higher temperatures resulted in lower bio-/hydrochar yields.
- Biochars showed lower H/C ratios than hydrochars due to their greater stability.
- Rice straw is suited for carbon sequestration by pyrolysis/hydrothermal carbonization.
- Pig manure is suitable for use as a soil amendment substrate.

Conversion of rice straw (RS) and pig manure (PM) into chars is a promising disposal/recycling option. Herein, pyrolysis and hydrothermal carbonization were used to produce bio- and hydrochars from RS and PM, affording lower biochar (300-700 °C) and hydrochar (180-300 °C) yields at higher temperatures within the specified range. The C contents and C/N ratios of RS chars were higher than those of PM ones, with the opposite trend observed for yield and ash content. C and ash contents increased with increasing temperature, whereas H/C, O/C, and (O + N)/C ratios decreased. The lower H/C ratio of biochars compared to that of hydrochars indicated greater stability of the former. KCl was the main inorganic fraction in RS biochars, whereas quartz was dominant in PM biochars, and albite in PM hydrochars. Thus, RS is more suitable for carbon sequestration, while PM is more suitable for use as a soil amendment substrate.

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