Characteristic Properties of Pine Needle Biochar Blocks with Distinctive Binders

Biochar beehive blocks are an unpolluted renewable and sustainable source of energy. Pine needle is abundantly available in the form of biomass world over. In the present study biomass of pine needles was transformed into biochar using a biochar production machine. The biochar beehive blocks were produced with different binding agents, e.g. soil, cattle dung, cement and lime in 30%, 40% and 50% weight proportion. Block-making procedure increases the bulk density of loose biomass up to 30–100% with increase in calorific value, reduction in storage space requirement and transportation cost as compared to loose biomass. The developed biochar blocks were 12.7 cm in diameter, 8 cm in height and weighed 600 g. The average moisture, volatiles, ash and fixed carbon contents were 5%, 36%, 25% and 40% respectively. The results of the study showed that the maximum shatter resistance and water absorption resistance as 83% and 76% for B50C50 and B50L50 respectively, while the maximum calorific value was 29 MJ/kg for B70S30. Based on process optimization using RSM, a biochar block with a binding ratio of 40% proved to be optimal. The production cost of biochar blocks for soil or dung was B6.30/kg, while for cement or lime blocks it was B10.30/kg. The use of pine needle biomass reduces the hazard of bushfire and helps achieve effective selfemployment by preventing rural farmers from migrating from the countryside.