Biochar Hydrophilicity Characterization by a Smartphone-Based Apparatus: Design, Construction, and Measurement Calibration

Authors

Emma Letourneau, University of Nevada, Las VegasFollow
Suraj Pochampally, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Files

Description

Water contact angles are used to determine hydrophilicity, which is a material's attraction to water. A water contact angle of greater than 90 degrees indicates a hydrophobic material that repels water, whereas a contact angle of less than 90 degrees indicates a hydrophilic material [Fig. 1]. Water contact angles are measured through a goniometer, which can cost between $2000 to $10,000.

Biochar is a porous carbon material created from biological waste products, that is pyrolyzed (i.e. burned) in a low-oxygen, high heat environment. Biochar can be used to remove contaminants from water and remediate soil while reusing waste, making it an excellent environmentally-friendly material. The biochar feedstock type and pyrolysis temperature impacts the resulting biochar's material properties, including hydrophilicity.

Publication Date

Spring 4-27-2022

Language

English

Keywords

Chemistry; Water

Disciplines

Chemistry | Water Resource Management

File Format

pdf

File Size

2800 KB

Comments

Faculty Mentor: Jaeyun Moon

Recommended Citation

Letourneau, Emma and Pochampally, Suraj, "Biochar Hydrophilicity Characterization by a Smartphone-Based Apparatus: Design, Construction, and Measurement Calibration" (2022). Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters. 111.
https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/durep_posters/111

Rights

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