Characterization of Defatted Cottonseed Meal-Based Biochar and Bio-Oil

To enhance the utilization of agricultural byproduct defatted cottonseed meal as a "green" and value-added raw material, in this work, we evaluated the production of biochar and bio-oil by slow pyrolysis of defatted cottonseed meal. Slow pyrolysis at 300, 400, and 500C °C were applied to conversion of cottonseed meal to biochar and bio-oil. The physicochemical properties of the biochar products were characterized by wet chemistry and advanced spectroscopic techniques. The bio-oil product was separated into an aqueous phase and an oily phase which were characterized by ultrahigh resolution electrospray ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry. The characterization work increased the knowledge on the chemical and structural composition of cottonseed meal-derived biochar and bio-oil products. Such knowledge is of great help in effective utilization of these products in pollutant absorption/immobilization, bio-energy resources or bio-based wood bonding.