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Turning Construction, Renovation, and Demolition (CRD) Wood Waste into Biochar: A Scalable and Sustainable Solution for Energy and Environmental Applications

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  • Aravind Ganesan

    (Institut d’Innovations en Écomatériaux, Écoproduits et Écoénergies, Pavillon CIPP, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Boul. des Forges, Trois-Rivières, QC G8Z 4M3, Canada
    Innofibre—Centre d’Innovation des Produits Cellulosiques, 3351, Boul. des Forges C.P.97, Trois-Rivières, QC G9A 5E6, Canada)

  • Simon Barnabé

    (Institut d’Innovations en Écomatériaux, Écoproduits et Écoénergies, Pavillon CIPP, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Boul. des Forges, Trois-Rivières, QC G8Z 4M3, Canada)

  • Younès Bareha

    (Institut d’Innovations en Écomatériaux, Écoproduits et Écoénergies, Pavillon CIPP, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Boul. des Forges, Trois-Rivières, QC G8Z 4M3, Canada)

  • Simon Langlois

    (Innofibre—Centre d’Innovation des Produits Cellulosiques, 3351, Boul. des Forges C.P.97, Trois-Rivières, QC G9A 5E6, Canada)

  • Olivier Rezazgui

    (Innofibre—Centre d’Innovation des Produits Cellulosiques, 3351, Boul. des Forges C.P.97, Trois-Rivières, QC G9A 5E6, Canada)

  • Cyrine Boussabbeh

    (Innofibre—Centre d’Innovation des Produits Cellulosiques, 3351, Boul. des Forges C.P.97, Trois-Rivières, QC G9A 5E6, Canada)

Abstract

This study investigates the pyrolysis of construction, renovation, and demolition (CRD) wood waste to produce biochar, with a focus on its robustness, scalability, and characterization for energy and environmental applications. Pyrolysis conditions, including the temperature, biomass residence time (BRT), and feedstock mass, were varied to evaluate their effects on biochar properties. High-temperature biochars (B800) showed the highest fixed carbon (FC) (87%) and thermostable fraction (TSF) (96%) and the lowest volatile carbon (VC) (9%), with a high carbon content (92%), a large BET surface area (300 m 2 /g), and a high micropore volume (0.146 cm 3 /g). However, the hydrogen (0.9%) and oxygen (2.2%) content, Van-Krevelen parameters (H/C: 0.1; O/C: 0.02), and biochar yield (21%) decreased with increasing temperature. Moderate-temperature biochars (B600) have balanced physicochemical properties and yields, making them suitable for adsorption applications. Methyl orange dye removal exceeded 90% under the optimal conditions, with B600 fitting well with the Freundlich isotherm model (R 2 = 0.97; 1/n = 0.5) and pseudo-second-order kinetic model (R 2 = 1). The study highlights biochar’s suitability for varied applications, emphasizing the need for scalability in CRD wood pyrolysis.

Suggested Citation

  • Aravind Ganesan & Simon Barnabé & Younès Bareha & Simon Langlois & Olivier Rezazgui & Cyrine Boussabbeh, 2025. "Turning Construction, Renovation, and Demolition (CRD) Wood Waste into Biochar: A Scalable and Sustainable Solution for Energy and Environmental Applications," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(15), pages 1-39, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2025:i:15:p:3902-:d:1707392
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