ARS | Publication request: Increasing biochar surface area: effects of various milling

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: September 15, 2011
Publication Date: October 22, 2011
Citation: Peterson, S.C., Jackson, M.A., Kim, S., Palmquist, D.E. 2011. Increasing biochar surface area: Effects of various milling [abstract]. American Chemical Society. Abstract #14304.

Technical Abstract: Biochar produced from corn stover is a renewable, plentiful source of carbon that is a potential substitute for carbon black as rubber composite filler and also as binder/filter media for water or beverage purification applications. However, to be successful in these applications, the surface area of the biochar must be maximized. In this work, a planetary ball mill was used to increase the surface area of the biochar, and various milling parameters were examined to see which had the largest effect on surface area. The weight ratio of milling media to biochar and the mass of solvent used in wet-milling were the most important milling parameters in maximizing surface area, increasing it by a factor of approximately 60 over unmilled biochar and more than twice that of a carbon black control. Additionally, the method of salt-assisted dry-milling was tested and found to increase the surface area of biochar only moderately, but was superior for increasing the micropore surface area of the biochar.