TY - EJOUR
AU - Kukwa, Rose Erdoo
AU - Kukwa, Donald Tyoker
AU - Barnabas, Samson Saater
PY - 2023
DA - November
TI - Reclamation of poultry litter for the production of biochar
T2 - International Journal of Recycling of Organic Waste in Agriculture
L1 - https://oiccpress.com/international-journal-of-recycling-of-organic-waste-in-agriculture/article/reclamation-of-poultry-litter-for-the-production-of-biochar/
DO - 10.30486/ijrowa.2023.1960315.1490
N2 - Purpose: Poor management of chicken litter by the poultry industry has caused many environmental issues. Biochar’s unique characteristics make poultry litter-to-biochar conversion an intriguing management option thus, could be utilized as an organic fertilizer for plant nutrients. In this research, poultry litter was converted into biochar, which offers a range of possible applications, including analyzing key nutrients, improving air and water quality, conditioning soil, and neutralizing acidic soils. Method: Fresh poultry litter was pyrolyzed for 20 minutes at a temperature of 500 oC in an oxygen-restricted muffle furnace to produce biochar. The biochar was examined chemically and physically using a variety of techniques. These included microwave plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (MP-AES), the scanning electron microscope (SEM), the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA and DTG). Results: The pyrolysis output was 56.38%, 32.20% ash, 2.00% moisture, 0.60 kg/m3 bulk density, pH 9.65, and 0.00314 dS/m EC. The mineral elemental analysis gave 621.73 mg/kg calcium, 63.65 mg/kg potassium, 48.94 mg/kg magnesium, 13.14 mg/kg sodium, and 11.85 mg/kg phosphorus.  FTIR showed the presence of functional groups which could act as cation adsorbents. SEM pictures showed the sample’s amorphous, non-uniform surface. TGA and DTG curves showed mass loss and sample breakdown as the temperature climbed. Conclusion: Poultry litter converted to biochar can act as a nutrient-rich soil conditioner to address mineral deficits in fruits and vegetables grown in acidic soils. This is a good way to recycle agricultural trash.   Highlights Pyrolysis process was engaged for the conversion of poultry litter to biochar with high pH and electrical conductivity The biochar was found to contain high concentration of mineral elements such as Ca, K, Mg, Na and P The biochar was further characterized using FTIR and Thermal Analysis which revealed functional groups characteristics of biochar and three areas of mass loss respectively The biochar can be used to improve the soil condition as well as neutralize acidic soils 
PB - OICC Press
KW - Pyrolysis, Chicken wastes, Environment, Management, Pollution, Soil conditioner 
EN -