Biochar nanopore structural formation from pyrolytic carbonization of lignocellulosic biomass – a review

Lignocellulosic biomass (LBM) thermal conversion for sustainable green carbon products, especially biochar, has been widely studied and continues to remain an interesting subject that cuts across the scientific communities and industry. Biochar is receiving attention from researchers mainly due to the magnitude of its surface activity, owing to its porous structure, resulting in more efficient carbon utilization. Although literature covers a wide variety of studies related to textural properties of biochar, there are limited systematic descriptions on the formation of the nanopore structure of LBM during pyrolytic carbonization. A comprehensive understanding of how the chemical transformations of LBM components generate nanopores within the solid matrix of biochar is needed, which determines the extent of its surface activity and thus enhances its properties relevant to several industrial applications. This review discusses a new insight into the correlation between the molecular transformation of LBM and physical changes within its solid matrix under pyrolytic carbonization conditions. Subsequently, mechanisms of localized build-up of non-condensable volatiles in the form of spherical vesicles, and uneven development of the BSUs arising from defects within or between the BSUs as successive stages of the formation process of nanopore structure, were summarized. Finally, a comprehensive summary on the promotional and destructive roles of pyrolysis conditions on the formation of nanopore structure was provided. This review provides mechanistic insights that are essential for rational feedstock selection and process optimization towards producing biochar with desired textural properties.

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