Valorisation of food industry waste into high-performance biochar for environmental applications
Abstract Organic waste from the food industry can be thermochemically converted into valuable products, supporting the circular economy and reducing environmental and socio-economic impacts. This study explores the valorisation of food industry residues, such as rapeseed cake, maize cobs, and walnut...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-11580-z |
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| author | Małgorzata Sieradzka Wojciech Jerzak Agata Mlonka-Mędrala Anna Marszałek Mariusz Dudziak Izabela Kalemba-Rec Aleksandra Błoniarz Markus Reinmöller Agnieszka Kopia Wojciech Nowak Aneta Magdziarz |
| author_facet | Małgorzata Sieradzka Wojciech Jerzak Agata Mlonka-Mędrala Anna Marszałek Mariusz Dudziak Izabela Kalemba-Rec Aleksandra Błoniarz Markus Reinmöller Agnieszka Kopia Wojciech Nowak Aneta Magdziarz |
| author_sort | Małgorzata Sieradzka |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Organic waste from the food industry can be thermochemically converted into valuable products, supporting the circular economy and reducing environmental and socio-economic impacts. This study explores the valorisation of food industry residues, such as rapeseed cake, maize cobs, and walnut shells, through slow pyrolysis at 600 °C under an inert atmosphere. The studied feedstocks were lignocellulosic materials with approximately 45% carbon content, but had different fibre contents, which subsequently affected the properties of the biochars. The highest char yield was observed for rapeseed cake (26%), followed by walnut shells (24%) and maize cobs (22%). Elemental analysis revealed that the carbon content in the biochars of maize cobs and walnut shells exceeded 80%, with a particularly significant surface area (356 m2/g) noted for the walnut shells, and very low for the rapeseed cake and maize cobs, respectively. Only after the chars underwent physical (steam activation at 850 °C) and chemical activation (using H3PO4 and ZnCl2), resulting in a substantial increase in surface area, exceeding 300 m2/g for rapeseed cake and maize cobs and c.a. 550 m2/g for walnut shell biochar. These biochars effectively removed organic (phenol) and inorganic (Pb2+) pollutants from aqueous solutions (100% removal of Pb2+ and 82% removal of phenol for biochar of walnut shells) and additionally did not exhibit acute toxicity in Lemna minor tests, confirming their environmental safety. The work aligns with SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) by enabling low-cost pollutant removal, SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) by upcycling food waste, SDG 13 (Climate Action) through carbon sequestration and emissions mitigation, and SDG 15 (Life on Land) by offering materials that improve soil health and support circular economy principles. This research demonstrates how engineered biochar can serve as a multipurpose environmental tool, directly supporting global sustainability targets. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-84609ca4ad2c443d97171134eeeb0690 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-84609ca4ad2c443d97171134eeeb06902025-08-20T03:05:22ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-0115111710.1038/s41598-025-11580-zValorisation of food industry waste into high-performance biochar for environmental applicationsMałgorzata Sieradzka0Wojciech Jerzak1Agata Mlonka-Mędrala2Anna Marszałek3Mariusz Dudziak4Izabela Kalemba-Rec5Aleksandra Błoniarz6Markus Reinmöller7Agnieszka Kopia8Wojciech Nowak9Aneta Magdziarz10AGH University of KrakowAGH University of KrakowAGH University of KrakowSilesian University of TechnologySilesian University of TechnologyAGH University of KrakowAGH University of KrakowUniversität StuttgartAGH University of KrakowAGH University of KrakowAGH University of KrakowAbstract Organic waste from the food industry can be thermochemically converted into valuable products, supporting the circular economy and reducing environmental and socio-economic impacts. This study explores the valorisation of food industry residues, such as rapeseed cake, maize cobs, and walnut shells, through slow pyrolysis at 600 °C under an inert atmosphere. The studied feedstocks were lignocellulosic materials with approximately 45% carbon content, but had different fibre contents, which subsequently affected the properties of the biochars. The highest char yield was observed for rapeseed cake (26%), followed by walnut shells (24%) and maize cobs (22%). Elemental analysis revealed that the carbon content in the biochars of maize cobs and walnut shells exceeded 80%, with a particularly significant surface area (356 m2/g) noted for the walnut shells, and very low for the rapeseed cake and maize cobs, respectively. Only after the chars underwent physical (steam activation at 850 °C) and chemical activation (using H3PO4 and ZnCl2), resulting in a substantial increase in surface area, exceeding 300 m2/g for rapeseed cake and maize cobs and c.a. 550 m2/g for walnut shell biochar. These biochars effectively removed organic (phenol) and inorganic (Pb2+) pollutants from aqueous solutions (100% removal of Pb2+ and 82% removal of phenol for biochar of walnut shells) and additionally did not exhibit acute toxicity in Lemna minor tests, confirming their environmental safety. The work aligns with SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) by enabling low-cost pollutant removal, SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) by upcycling food waste, SDG 13 (Climate Action) through carbon sequestration and emissions mitigation, and SDG 15 (Life on Land) by offering materials that improve soil health and support circular economy principles. This research demonstrates how engineered biochar can serve as a multipurpose environmental tool, directly supporting global sustainability targets.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-11580-zFood industry wastePyrolysisBiochar activationPorous materialsPollutants adsorption |
| spellingShingle | Małgorzata Sieradzka Wojciech Jerzak Agata Mlonka-Mędrala Anna Marszałek Mariusz Dudziak Izabela Kalemba-Rec Aleksandra Błoniarz Markus Reinmöller Agnieszka Kopia Wojciech Nowak Aneta Magdziarz Valorisation of food industry waste into high-performance biochar for environmental applications Scientific Reports Food industry waste Pyrolysis Biochar activation Porous materials Pollutants adsorption |
| title | Valorisation of food industry waste into high-performance biochar for environmental applications |
| title_full | Valorisation of food industry waste into high-performance biochar for environmental applications |
| title_fullStr | Valorisation of food industry waste into high-performance biochar for environmental applications |
| title_full_unstemmed | Valorisation of food industry waste into high-performance biochar for environmental applications |
| title_short | Valorisation of food industry waste into high-performance biochar for environmental applications |
| title_sort | valorisation of food industry waste into high performance biochar for environmental applications |
| topic | Food industry waste Pyrolysis Biochar activation Porous materials Pollutants adsorption |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-11580-z |
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