Sustainable biochar production from shrimp pond algal waste: Optimization of pyrolysis parameters using the L9 Taguchi method

Algal blooms (Spirogyra), a common environmental challenge in shrimp farming, offer a valuable opportunity for sustainable waste conversion into biochar. This study evaluates the feasibility of producing biochar from algal biomass through pyrolysis, focusing on optimizing three key process parameters: temperature, residence time, and heating rate. An L9 Taguchi orthogonal array was used to design the experiments. Biochar yield and quality were analyzed using advanced characterization techniques, including PXRD, FESEM, EDAX, CHNS, RAMAN, FTIR, BET, XPS, analysis, particle density, and pH measurement, to understand the physicochemical properties of the resulting biochar. From the characterization data, the optimization of biochar yield in the context of the functional group's perspective and surface area is 70.5 % and 66.1 %, respectively. The pyrolyzed product, pristine biochar, demonstrated that processing conditions significantly influence biochar structure and properties quantitatively and qualitatively. These findings provide insight into optimal pyrolysis parameters for enhancing biochar quality, with potential applications in environmental remediation and agricultural sustainability.