Avaliação do biocarvão de casca de banana obtido via pirólise para aplicação em solos agrícolas

Abstract

The generation of waste by the agricultural sector, driven by the increase in population, has been a challenge in terms of its management, given the large amount of bio-waste produced, which can reach 40% only in the fruit industry. Banana peel, residue from banana consumption, is basically composed of the lignocellulosic structures found in most agricultural biomasses: cellulose, hemicellulose, lignins, extracts and other elements such as K, found in large quantities in the fruit and one of the macronutrients necessary for soil fertility. The conversion of banana peels through slow pyrolysis can form more stable structures and which, when incorporated into the soil, can promote an improvement in their quality and possible increase in crop yields. In this sense, this work sought to evaluate the characteristics of the biochar formed from the pyrolysis of banana peel in two heating profiles at the pyrolysis temperature of 370 °C at heating rates of 11 °C/min and 35 °C/min determined with the aid of a computational model for a potential application in agricultural soils. The biochars produced were characterized in order to determine the hydrogen potential (pH), electrical conductivity (EC), cation exchange capacity (CEC), morphology, surface area, atomic ratios C/N, H/C and O/C. The results showed a highly alkaline structure, with an average pH value of 12.60; as well as a CTC of 511 mmol/kg which suggests a good potential for application as a soil conditioner. It was possible to conclude that, the temperature increases until the heating bands of the profiles of the pyrolysis performed formed a stable biochar considering its lower atomic ratios, to the point that it was possible to observe an increase in its surface area and amount of pores in its structure.