From Textile Waste to Biochar: Pyrolysis Yields and Characterization

The research presented in this report works to contribute to the field of open-loop recycling by investigating pyrolysis of textile waste into char and biochar. Carbon-rich char and biochar are gaining traction as a sustainable strategy for soil amendment, waste management, and carbon sequestration. The char/biochar distinction is based on input: char is produced via the thermal decomposition of synthetic or man-made materials, while biochar is composed of biomass materials. The aim of this project was to produce and characterize various samples of char and biochar from 13 textile-waste feedstocks via pyrolysis. Data regarding yield and material characterization were collected through proximate analysis, ultimate analysis, and elemental composition tests.