Mitigating dust and air pollution from open-field rice straw burning through biochar production using an integrated biomass gasifier and burner

Abstract

Biochar, a carbon-rich byproduct of rice straw pyrolysis, offers a sustainable alternative to open-field burning by reducing emissions and enhancing carbon sequestration. This study optimized biochar production at 550 °C for 4 hours, yielding 61 % carbon content with a 0.92 stability factor. Each batch retains 4.382 kg of carbon (16.07 kg CO2eq), with an annual sequestration of 5.863 tons CO2eq. The biomass gasifier and burner (BGB) system reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 65 % and total suspended particulates (TSP) by 89 %, meeting environmental standards. These results highlight biochar's role in mitigating climate change and providing farmers with a cleaner alternative to conventional burning practices.