Valorization of African Elemi Shell Waste Into Porous Hydrochar Via Hydrothermal Carbonization for Carbon Capture Applications
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61227/arji.v8i3.836Keywords:
biomass, hydrochar, surface area, pore volume, capture, carbonizationAbstract
Because of the world's rapid expansion, more biomass waste is being produced as a result of increased agricultural and industrial processing activities. It is imperative that these waste materials be transformed into a product that can stimulate the economy and create wealth. In this task, African elemi shells are hydrothermally carbonized to produce hydro-char using locally sourced biomass waste. In order to create a hydro-char of higher quality for the adsorbent, the Response Surface Method was used to design the experiment. A design expert chose the parameters based on temperature, residence time, and W-B ratio. The combination of 220 °C reaction temperature, 90 minutes’ residence time, and 12 grams W-B ratio produced the hydro-char with the largest specific surface area (976.3 m2/g) and pore volume (2.25 cc/g). The combination of 180 °C reaction temperature, 30 minutes’ residence time, and 8 grams’ water-biomass ratio produced the hydro-char with the smallest specific surface area and pore volume (156.2 m2g-1 and 0.13 cc/g, respectively). According to the findings, the hydrochar made from HTC of African Elemi Shell at reaction temperatures of 2180C, residence times of 86 minutes, and a water-to-biomass ratio of 10.3 grams can be used as an adsorbent for CO2 capture.
Downloads
References
Smith, P., Soussana, J. F., Angers, D., Schipper, L., Chenu, C., Rasse, D. P., … & Arias‐Navarro, C. (2019). How to measure, report and verify soil carbon change to realize the potential of soil carbon sequestration for atmospheric greenhouse gas removal. Global change biology.
Liu, W., G. Wang, M. Yu, H. Chen, Y. Jiang, M. Yang, & Y. Shi (2020). Projecting the future vegetation-climate system over East Asia and its RCP-dependence. Climate Dynamics, 55(9), 2725–2742. DOI: 10.1007/s00382-020-05411-2
Zhang, Y., Jin, Z., & Sikand, M. (2021). The top-of-atmosphere, surface and atmospheric cloud radiative kernels based on ISCCP-H datasets: Method and evaluation. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, 126(24), e2021JD035053. DOI: 10.1029/2021JD035053
Chen, W.T., Zhang, Y., Lee, T.H., et al. (2018). Renewable diesel blendstocks produced by hydrothermal liquefaction of wet biowaste. Nature Sustainability, 1, 702-710. DOI: 10.1038/s41893-018-0172-3
Goel, C., Mohan, S., & Dinesha, P. (2021). CO₂ capture by adsorption on biomass-derived activated char: A review. Science of the Total Environment, 798, 149296. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149296.
Li, Z., Yi, W., Li, Z., Tian, C., Fu, P., Zhang, Y., Zhou, L., & Teng, J. (2020). Preparation of Solid Fuel Hydrochar over Hydrothermal Carbonization of Red Jujube Branch. Energies, 13(2), 480. DOI: 10.3390/en13020480.
Wang, Y.-J., Yu, Y., Huang, H.-J., Yu, C.-L., Fang, H.-S., Zhou, C.-H., Yin, X., Chen, W.-H., & Guo, X.-C. (2022). Efficient conversion of sewage sludge into hydrochar by microwave-assisted hydrothermal carbonization. Science of The Total Environment, 803, 149874. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149874.
Fang, J., Gao, B., Chen, J., & Zimmerman, A. R. (2019). Hydrothermal carbonization for valorizing waste biomass: Role of feedstock properties and reaction conditions on hydrochar structure and adsorption performance. Bioresource Technology, 292, 121974. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2019.121974
Kambo, H.S.; Dutta, A. Comparative evaluation of torrefaction and hydrothermal carbonization of lignocellulosic biomass for the production of solid biofuel. Energy Convers. Manag. 2015, 105, 746–755.
Libra, J.A., Ro, K.S., Kammann, C., Funke, A., Berge, N.D., Neubauer, Y., Titirici, M.-M., Fuhner, C., Bens, O., Kern, J., Emmerich, K.-H., 2011. Hydrothermal carbonization of biomass residuals: a comparative review of the chemistry, processes and applications of wet and dry pyrolysis. Biofuels 2, 89–124.
M. Toufiq Reza, Janet Andert, Benjamin Herklotz, Daniela Busch Review Article: Hydrothermal Carbonization of Biomass for Energy and Crop Production February 2014Applied Bioenergy 1(1) DOI:10.2478/apbi-2014-0001
Wang, W., Chen, W.-H., & Jang, M.-F. (2020). Characterization of Hydrochar Produced by Hydrothermal Carbonization of Organic Sludge. Future Cities and Environment, 6(1), 13, 1-10. https://doi.org/10.5334/fce.102
Okoro, I. C., Ugochukwu, G. C., & Ezeokonkwo, M. A. (2017). Proximate and phytochemical composition of Canarium schweinfurthii (African Elemi) pulp and seed. International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research, 8(8), 1504–1508.
Adewale, A. A., Olawale, O., & Akinwale, A. S. (2019). Nutritional and phytochemical evaluation of African Elemi (Canarium schweinfurthii) fruit pulp and seed oil. Journal of Applied Sciences and Environmental Management, 23(3), 501–507. https://doi.org/10.4314/jasem.v23i3.16
Odeh, C. P., Mgbemena, C. O., Oreko, B. U., & Mgbemena, C. E. (2025). Impact of processing parameters on the hydrothermal carbonisation of African Elemi Shell. Journal of Umm Al-Qura University for Engineering & Architecture. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43995-025-00135-y
Brunauer, S., Emmett, P. H., & Teller, E. (1938). Adsorption of gases in multimolecular layers. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 60(2), 309–319. https://doi.org/10.1021/ja01269a023
Lowell, S., Shields, J. E., Thomas, M. A., & Thommes, M. (2004). Characterization of Porous Solids and Powders: Surface Area, Pore Size and Density. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-2303-3
Gregg, S. J., & Sing, K. S. W. (1982). Adsorption, Surface Area and Porosity (2nd ed.). Academic Press. https://doi.org/10.1016/C2009-0-22119-7
Thommes, M., Kaneko, K., Neimark, A. V., Olivier, J. P., Rodriguez-Reinoso, F., Rouquerol, J., & Sing, K. S. W. (2015). Physisorption of gases, with special reference to the evaluation of surface area and pore size distribution (IUPAC Technical Report). Pure and Applied Chemistry, 87(9–10), 1051–1069. https://doi.org/10.1515/pac-2014-1117
Musa, M., Idris, S. S., Ahmad, M. M., & Yaakob, Z. (2019). Characterization of hydrochar produced from hydrothermal carbonization of oil palm shells. Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery, 9(4), 753–762. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13399-018-0360-7
Zhou, Y., Wu, Y., Wang, T., Zhang, J., Li, Y., & Zhao, Y. (2021). Effect of hydrothermal carbonization temperature on hydrochar properties and heavy metal adsorption performance. Science of the Total Environment, 754, 142175. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142175
Liu, Z., Quek, A., Kent Hoekman, S., & Balasubramanian, R. (2019). Production of solid biochar fuel from waste biomass by hydrothermal carbonization. Fuel, 103, 943–949. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2012.07.069
Zhao, P., Shen, Y., Ge, S., Chen, Z., Yoshikawa, K., & Chen, C. (2020). Effects of process parameters on hydrothermal carbonization of biomass for energy and materials: A review. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 119, 109600. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2019.109600
Lehmann, J., & Joseph, S. (Eds.). (2015). Biochar for Environmental Management: Science, Technology and Implementation (2nd ed.). Routledge, London and New York. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203762264
Lehmann, J., Rillig, M. C., Thies, J., Masiello, C. A., Hockaday, W. C., & Crowley, D. (2015). Biochar effects on soil biota – A review. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 43, 1812–1836. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2011.04.02
Li, X., Hayashi, J., & Li, C.-Z. (2019). FTIR study of the evolution of functional groups during the pyrolysis of biomass: Lignin. Fuel, 117, 1204–1212. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2013.01.045
Wang, T., Zhai, Y., Zhu, Y., Li, C., Zeng, G., & Wang, B. (2021). Mechanism and kinetics of hydrochar formation via hydrothermal carbonization of biomass: Insight from characterization and modeling. Fuel, 283, 119253. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2020.119253
Chen, W., Lu, S., Luo, J., Shao, J., & He, Y. (2018). Characterization of biochar properties affected by different pyrolysis temperatures using FTIR and XPS analyses. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 25(29), 29386–29394. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-2913-1
Chen, W., Li, K., Chen, C., & Yang, H. (2021). Thermal degradation behavior and kinetics of hydrochar and its feedstock from hydrothermal carbonization of biomass. Bioresource Technology, 319, 124187. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2020.124187
Wang, L., Zhang, L., Li, A., & Chen, R. (2022). Comparative study on pyrolysis characteristics and kinetics of hydrochar and raw biomass: Insight into structural evolution during hydrothermal carbonization. Fuel, 308, 122017. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2021.122017
Li, M., Xu, G., Liu, Y., & Chen, Z. (2020). Effect of hydrothermal carbonization on the physicochemical properties and combustion behavior of biomass. Bioresource Technology, 315, 123802. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2020.123802
Additional Files
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Authors

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Similar Articles
- Abamba, Deborah Chibuzor, Arubayi D.O , Influence of Students' Interests and Counseling Services on Subject Area Specialization Preferences Among Home Economics Students in Colleges of Education in Delta State , Action Research Journal Indonesia (ARJI): Vol. 6 No. 3 (2024): Action Research Journal Indonesia (ARJI)
- Haerani Haerani, Hendra Hendra, Sri Jamilah, Penerapan Pendekatan Psikologi dalam Mencegah Eksploitasi Anak di TK Aisyiah III Tolobali Kota Bima , Action Research Journal Indonesia (ARJI): Vol. 7 No. 3 (2025): Action Research Journal Indonesia (ARJI)
- Ann Ngozi Ugobueze , The Impact of Motivation on Primary Education Teachers: A Study in Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria , Action Research Journal Indonesia (ARJI): Vol. 6 No. 4 (2024): Action Research Journal Indonesia (ARJI)
- Ann Ngozi Ugobueze , The Role of Education in Political Socialization of the Nigerian Citizens: Implication For Primary Education , Action Research Journal Indonesia (ARJI): Vol. 6 No. 4 (2024): Action Research Journal Indonesia (ARJI)
- Ganis Novitriani, Naista Fabella Sari, Merda Arnelita, Kharisma Rizki Aulia, Marina Wati, Nurul Azizah, Learning Interest: How Does the Experimentation of the Technology-Enhanced Learning (TEL) Models? , Action Research Journal Indonesia (ARJI): Vol. 7 No. 3 (2025): Action Research Journal Indonesia (ARJI)
You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.


