Valorization of waste biomass towards biochar production – Characterization and perspectives for sustainable applications in Serbia
Sanja Panić, Nataša Đurišić‐Mladenović, Mirjana Petronijević, Ivan Stijepović, Marija Milanović, Gábor Kozma, Ákos Kukovecz
Abstract
The Republic of Serbia, as a transition country and a candidate to join the European Union, is still facing a variety of challenges to maximize the use of energy potential from its renewable energy sources . The current data indicate that agricultural biomass, followed by the woody biomass are recognized as an alternative energy sources with the highest potential in Serbia. A substantial amount of waste biomass which is generated per year in Serbia represents an excellent feedstock for the production of biochar, an exceptionally rich well-spring of carbon, potentially suitable to address the most important ecological issues of the modern society. This review is focused on the potential directions towards the sustainable utilization of biochar in Serbia with reference to the current state of energy production and consumption in different sectors of the country’s economy. Additionally, a relationship between certain properties of biochar produced from different biomass sources originated from Serbia and its potential utilization was proposed. For that purpose, different biomass feedstocks were pyrolyzed into biochar: non-woody samples obtained from agricultural residues, brewer’s spent grain as a food industry waste, and oak and beech sawdust as representatives of woody biomass. The composition, structure and texture of the produced biochars were examined by standard characterization techniques. Having in mind that Serbia possesses a significant potential of renewable energy sources , the future implementation of biochar in different sectors can be a contributing factor to the reshaping of the country’s economy and accelerating its transition from a linear to circular economy model.