Synthesis, Characterization, and Process Optimization of Invasive Weed Tephrosia purpurea Biochar

The present study aimed to optimize the pyrolysis process for producing biochar from the invasive weed Tephrosia purpurea using response surface methodology. The physico-chemical and morphological properties of biochar were predicted. The biochar was derived by slow pyrolysis at 450oC in vacuum conditions for 1 h of reaction time. The obtained biochar is rich in ketones, ethers, and aromatic compounds. Biochar has an alkaline pH, a high fixed carbon content (77.63%), a large surface area (87.77m2/g), a wide pore volume (0.03724cm3/g), and abundant trace minerals such as Na, K, Ca. Thus, findings reveal that obtained biochar could not only mitigate climate change, global warming, and carbon sequestration but also provide an effective strategy for invasive weed waste bio-management. To the best of the author’s knowledge, the present study is the first to assess the potentiality of T. purpurea biochar obtained by slow and vacuum pyrolysis.