SURFACE CHEMISTRY OF COW DUNG PYROLYZED AT 350°C

ABSTRACT
This study was conducted to analyse the properties of cow dung biochar carbonized at 350°C. The properties evaluated includes, pH bulk density, mineral content, heavy metals and surface acidity. The biochar was found to have a slightly high pH(8.64 ± 0.10g/ml) with a low bulk density (0.49 ± 0•3) g/ml). The alkaline pH of cow dung can contributes to the Increase pH of the soil. The concentration of the selected heavy metals (Cu=0.5mg/kg Pb=BDL, Zn=89.0mg/kg and cd=BDL respectively) analyzed, were below the threshold value of the European Biochar Certificate and the International Biochar Initiative guidelines. Furthermore, The total surface acid functional groups was deduced to be 5:33which consists of carboxylic acid groups =129mmol/g acid,Phenolic acid group = 3.30mmol/g,Lactonic acid group = 0.74mmol respectively.