Baseline Characteristics of Pristine Agricultural Pods Biochar

ABSTRACT The valorization of agricultural pod wastes into biochar offers a sustainable pathway for waste management and the development of functional carbonaceous materials. This study comparatively evaluates biochars produced from cocoa, flamboyant, and locust bean pods using an autothermal top‐lit updraft gasifier with retort heating, a system designed to enhance efficiency in low‐resource settings. The novelty of this work lies in providing the first comparative baseline data on unmodified pod‐derived biochars synthesized under the same controlled gasification conditions. The results show that cocoa pod biochar exhibited the highest yield and superior textural properties, with a surface area exceeding 750 m 2 /g, while flamboyant and locust bean pod biochars displayed lower but comparable performance. Thermal analysis confirmed stability up to 250°C, while spectroscopic and microscopic characterizations revealed carbon‐rich structures with oxygenated functional groups, porous morphology, and embedded mineral elements. These features suggest broad applicability in adsorption, soil amendment, and catalysis, although application trials remain a direction for future studies. In conclusion, this research establishes a reference for pod‐based biochars and demonstrates the feasibility of simple, eco‐friendly gasification systems for biomass valorization, contributing to the circular economy and sustainable materials development.