Grema et al., J. Mater. Environ. Sci., 2023, 14(12), pp. 1582-1594 1582 J. Mater. Environ. Sci., 2023, Volume 14, Issue 12, Page 1582-1594 http://www.jmaterenvironsci.com Journal of Materials and Environmental Science ISSN : 2028-2508 e-ISSN : 2737-890X CODEN : JMESCN Copyright © 2023, University of Mohammed Premier Oujda Morocco Characterization of cassava peelings as a precursor for biochar preparation Maman Hamissou IBRAHIM GREMA 1,2,4*, Affoué Tindo Sylvie KONAN 3, Esaie Kouadio Appiah KOUASSI 1**, Mahamane Nassirou AMADOU KIARI 1, Casimir BROU Yao 2, Kouassi Benjamin YAO 1,4 1Laboratory of Industrial Processes of Synthesis, Environment and New Energies (LAPISEN), National Polytechnic Institute Félix Houphouet-Boigny, Yamoussoukro BP 1093, Ivory Coast. 2UMRI Agricultural Science and Rural Engineering, National Polytechnic Institute Félix Houphouet-Boigny, Yamoussoukro BP 1093, Ivory Coast. 3Laboratory of Thermodynamics and Physical Chemistry of the Environment (LTPCM), UFR SFA; University Nangui Abrogoua, 02 BP 801 Abidjan 02, Ivory Coast. 4African Center of Excellence for the Recovery of Waste into High Value Added Products (CEA-VALOPRO), Institut National Polytechnique Félix Houphouet-Boigny (INP-HB); BP 1093 Yamoussoukro, (Ivory Coast) *Corresponding author, Email address: maman.ibrahim20@inphb.ci Received 27 Oct 2023, Revised 15 Dec 2023, Accepted 25 Dec 2023 Keywords: ✓ Agricultural biomass; ✓ Biochar; ✓ Characterization; ✓ Cassava peelings. Citation: Ibrahim Grema M.H., Konan A.T.S., Kouassi E. K.A., Amadou Kiari M.N., Brou Y. C., Yao K.B., (2023). Characterization of cassava peelings as a precursor for biochar preparation, J. Mater. Environ. Sci., 14(12), 1582-1594 Abstract: The growing world population is leading to an intensification of agricultural practices. The consequence of this is the production of large quantities of agricultural waste. However, this lignocellulosic waste can be valorized into useful substances in order to reduce the use of chemical fertilizers in agriculture. The aim of this study is to characterize cassava peelings with a view to their possible use in agriculture. The physical, chemical and thermal properties of cassava peelings were examined by SEM, XRD, XRF, CHNSO analysis, FTIR and TGA/DTG. These cassava peelings have low ash content (2.8%); low moisture content (5.5%); high volatile matter content (76.2%) and high fixed carbon content (15.5%). Acceptable levels of carbon (45.19%), nitrogen (1.19%), hydrogen (6.18%), sulfur (0.05%), chlorine (0.045%), oxygen (43.73%) and low ratios of O/C (0.96) and H/C (0.13) were found. SEM revealed a fibrous and porous morphology. Potential toxic elements (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn, Ti, Mn, V) determined by XRD in this biomass were almost trace. Peaks of crystalline and amorphous cellulose and oxides were observed. Hydroxyl, carbonyl and primary amine groups were also identified in this biomass. These results show that cassava peels can be used as potential raw materials for biochar production for agricultural purposes. 1. Introduction Intensive agriculture generates 11.4 billion tons of biomass per year worldwide (Meza-Sepúlveda et al., 2021). The consequence of this practice is the production of large quantities of agricultural residues. Agricultural biomass is made up of resources containing non-fossil organic carbon from living plants, animals, algae, micro-organisms or organic waste streams (Zörb et al., 2018). It is the result of the photosynthesis process that ensures the constitution and maintenance of its structural elements such as cellulose, hemicellulose or lignin, which form the rigid skeleton of plant biomass. According to Roy and Dias (Roy and Dias, 2017), these polymers contain a large amount of carbon.