E.A OYEDOH

The main goal of this research was to explore the effectiveness of slow pyrolysis of sawdust in generating high-quality biochar with beneficial characteristics for different uses, such as soil improvement and water purification. By adjusting the pyrolysis temperature and duration, the study sought to identify the ideal conditions for producing biochar with improved physicochemical properties. Sawdust, an abundant byproduct of the timber industry, underwent slow pyrolysis in a low-oxygen environment. The process was carried out at various temperatures, ranging from400°Cto700°C, to evaluate how temperature affects both the yield and characteristics of the resulting biochar. The produced biochar was analyzed through several techniques, such as surface area measurement, pH analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FTIR), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis, iodine number assessment, and yield percentage evaluation. The research revealed that slow pyrolysis of sawdust produced high-quality biochar with desirable characteristics. The biochar showed elevated carbon content, a porous structure, and an almost neutral pH, making it well-suited for use in agriculture and water purification. Both laboratory and field experiments confirmed that biochar effectively enhanced soil quality, boosted water retention, and improved nutrient availability. The research also showed that up to 55% of the material could be converted into solid biochar, while the rest was produced as bio-oil and syngas. These results emphasize the sustainable and versatile advantages of utilizing slow pyrolysis of sawdust for biochar production.

This study investigated the production of biodiesel from waste cooking oil using a catalyst derived from chicken manure impregnated with nickel sulfate. The catalyst was prepared by calcining chicken manure followed by a sol-gel process to incorporate nickel, and characterizedas a porous material with a surface area of 115 m²/g. Using Response Surface Methodology, the reaction conditions were optimized, identifying a methanol-to-oil ratio of 12:1, 3% catalyst loading, 55°C temperature, and 90 minutes reaction time as optimal, resulting in a biodiesel yield of 95.67%. The biodiesel met flash point safety standards but showed higher viscosity, density, and acid value than international fuel specifications, indicating the presence of residual free fatty acids that require pretreatment or purification. This work demonstrates that chicken manure can serve as a cost-effective catalyst precursor in converting waste cooking oil to biodiesel, promoting sustainable waste utilization and renewable energy production

The main goal of this research was to explore the effectiveness of slow pyrolysis of sawdust in generating high-quality biochar with beneficial characteristics for different uses, such as soil improvement and water purification. By adjusting the pyrolysis temperature and duration, the study sought to identify the ideal conditions for producing biochar with improved physicochemical properties. Sawdust, an abundant byproduct of the timber industry, underwent slow pyrolysis in a low-oxygen environment. The process was carried out at various temperatures, ranging from 400°C to 700°C, to evaluate how temperature affects both the yield and characteristics of the resulting biochar. The produced biochar was analyzed through several techniques, such as surface area measurement, pH analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Brunauer-Emmett- Teller (BET) analysis, iodine number assessment, and yield percentage evaluation. The research revealed that slow pyrolysis of sawdust produced high-quality biochar with desirable characteristics. The biochar showed elevated carbon content, a porous structure, and an almost neutral pH, making it well-suited for use in agriculture and water purification. Both laboratory and field experiments confirmed that biochar effectively enhanced soil quality, boosted water retention, and improved nutrient availability. The research also showed that up to 55% of the material could be converted into solid biochar, while the rest was produced as bio-oil and syngas. These results emphasize the sustainable and versatile advantages of utilizing slow pyrolysis of sawdust for biochar production.