ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Management of Tannery Solid Waste (TSW) through Pyrolysis and Characteristics of Its Derived Biochar
 
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Department of Botany, University of the Punjab, Lahore-54590, Pakistan
 
 
Submission date: 2019-12-13
 
 
Final revision date: 2020-01-26
 
 
Acceptance date: 2020-01-29
 
 
Online publication date: 2020-07-24
 
 
Publication date: 2020-10-05
 
 
Corresponding author
Firdaus-e- Bareen   

University of the Punjab, College of Eath and Environmental Sciences, Quaid-, 54590, Lahore, Pakistan
 
 
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2021;30(1):453-462
 
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ABSTRACT
Tannery solid waste is problematic and toxic biomass that has no other use than being dumped into the landfill or any dumping site. The present study provides an environmentally friendly method for sustainable management of toxic and unpleasant tannery solid waste by converting it into biochar, which is a carbon enriched byproduct of organic biomass produced through pyrolysis. The biochar derived from tannery solid waste contained a high percentage of carbon and nitrogen. The pH of biochar was alkaline (8.6) making it suitable for enhancing nutrient availability as compared to the initial pH of feedstock which was acidic (4.98). SEM analysis of biochar showed the presence of pores with some deposition of salts while no pores were observed in TSW feedstock. The surface area of biochar was 134.9 m2g-1, indicating that it can be used as a soil additive for enhancement of the absorption and adsorption processes as well as providing space for microbial activities. Amount of metals like Cr, Fe and Mg was high in biochar but it is presumed that bioavailability of these essential and non-essential metals to plants is limited. This study suggests the management of tannery solid waste by conversion to biochar and to use it as a soil additive because of properties like alkaline pH, increased surface area due to the presence of pores and essential elements such as Na, K, N and S.
eISSN:2083-5906
ISSN:1230-1485
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