ABSTRACT

Carbon based porous solids have been produced from cow dungs, an agricultural waste from bovine animals. They have found applications in, adsorption, bioelectrodes and in the drug industry as detoxifiers. This study was aimed at characterizing biochar obtained from torrefaction of cow dung using the physicochemical parameters viz, pH, electrical conductivity, ash content, and surface acidity. An investigation of the dungs torrefied at 250°C yielded 36.81% biochar, 23.00±0.10% ash content, a pH of 8.20±0.06, an electrical conductivity value of 12.62±0.25µS/cm, and total surface acidity of 2.09mmol/g. The results indicated improved surface properties of the char and the presence of active surface functional groups. Its elevated pH makes it justifies its use and  purposes such as adjusting soil pH. Its ash content provided insight into its relevance as an alternative source in soil mineral for plant growth. The improved surface properties make it suitable for adsorption studies.