Onsite wastewater treatment systems in Sweden are getting old and many of them lack sufficient phosphorus, nitrogen and organic carbon reduction. Biochar is a material that has been suggested as an alternative to the common sand or soil used in onsite wastewater treatment systems. The objective of this study was to compare the phosphorus removal capacity between three different modified biochars and one untreated biochar in a batch adsorption and column filter experiment. The modifications included impregnation of ferric chloride (FeCl3), calcium oxide (CaO) and untreated biochar mixed with the commercial phosphorus removal product Polonite. To further study nitrogen removal a filter with one vertical unsaturated section followed by one saturated horizontal flow section was installed. The batch adsorption experiment showed that CaO impregnated biochar had the highest phosphorus adsorption, i.e. of 0.30 ± 0.03 mg/g in a 3.3 mg/L phosphorus solution. However, the maximum adsorption capacity was calculated to be higher for the FeCl3 impregnated biochar (3.21 ± 0.01 mg/g) than the other biochar types. The pseudo 2nd order kinetic model proved better fit than the pseudo 1st order model for all biochars which suggest that chemical adsorption was important. Phosphorus adsorption to the untreated and FeCl3 impregnated biochar fitted the Langmuir adsorption isotherm model best. This indicates that the adsorption can be modeled as a homogenous monolayer process. The CaO impregnated and Polonite mixed biochars fitted the Freundlich adsorption model best which is an indicative of heterogenic adsorption. CaO and FeCl3 impregnated biochars had the highest total phosphorus (Tot-P) reduction of 90 ± 8 % and 92 ± 4 % respectively. The Polonite mixed biochar had a Tot-P reduction of 65 ± 14 % and the untreated biochar had a reduction of 43 ± 24 %. However, the effluent of the CaO impregnated biochar filter acquired a red-brown tint and a precipitation that might be an indication of incomplete impregnation of the biochar. The FeCl3 effluent had a very low pH. This can be a problem if the material is to be used in full-scale treatment system together with biological treatment for nitrogen that require a higher pH. The nitrogen removal filter showed a total nitrogen removal of 62 ± 16 % which is high compared to conventional onsite wastewater treatment systems. Batch adsorption and filter experiment confirms impregnated biochar as a promising replacement or addition to onsite wastewater treatment systems for phosphorus removal. However the removal of organic carbon (as chemical oxygen demand COD) in the filters was lower than expected and further investigation of organic carbon removal needs to be studied to see if these four biochars are suitable in real onsite wastewater treatment systems. / Många av Sveriges små avloppssystem är gamla och saknar tillräcklig rening av fosfor, kväve och organiskt material. Följden är förorenat grundvatten samt övergödning i hav, sjöar och vattendrag. Lösningar för att förbättra fosfor- och kvävereningen finns på marknaden men många har visat brister i rening och robusthet. Biokol är ett material som har föreslagits som ersättare till jord eller sand i mark och infiltrationsbäddar. Denna studie syftade till att i skak- och kolonnfilterexperiment jämföra fosforreduktion mellan tre modifierade biokol och ett obehandlat biokol. Modifieringen av biokolet innebar impregnering med järnklorid (FeCl3), kalciumoxid (CaO) samt blandning med Polonite som är en kommersiell produkt för fosforrening. För att undersöka förbättring av kväverening installerades även ett filter med obehandlat biokol där en vertikal aerob modul kombinerades med en efterföljande horisontell anaerob modul. Skakstudien där biokolen skakades i 3.3 mg/L fosforlösning visade att adsorptionen var högst i det CaO-impregnerade biokolet, 0.3 ± 0.03 mg/g. Den maximala potentiella fosforadsorptionen beräknades dock vara högst för biokolet som impregnerats med FeCl3, 3.21 ± 0.01 mg/g. Skakförsöket visade också att fosforadsorptionen var främst kemisk då adsorptionen passade bättre med pseudo andra ordningens modell än pseudo första. Adsorption av fosfor på obehandlat biokol och FeCl3 impregnerat biokol modellerades bäst med Langmuir modellen, vilket tyder på en homogen adsorption. Det Polonite-blandade biokolet och CaO-impregnerade biokolet modellerades bäst med Freundlich modellen vilket är en indikation på en heterogen adsorptionsprocess. Biokol impregnerat med CaO och FeCl3 gav de högsta totalfosforreduktionerna på 90 ± 8 % respektive 92 ± 4 %. Biokolet som var blandat med Polonite hade en reduktion på 65 ± 14 % och det obehandlade biokolet 43 ± 24 %. Ett problem med filtratet från CaO-filtret var att det fick en rödbrun färg samt en fällning vilket kan ha berott på ofullständig pyrolysering och impregnering. Filtratet från det FeCl3 impregnerade biokolet hade mycket lågt pH vilket kan vara problematiskt om mikrobiologisk tillväxt i filtret för rening av kväve och organiskt material vill uppnås. Filtret för kväverening gav en total kvävereduktion på 62 ± 16 % vilket är högre än kommersiella system. Resultaten från skak och filterstudien visade på att impregnerade biokol kan ge en förbättrad fosforrening om de skulle användas i små avloppssystem. Rening av organiskt material, kemisk syreförbrukning (COD), var dock låg i alla filter och behöver studeras ytterligare för att avgöra om dessa biokol är lämpliga för småskalig avloppsvattenrening.

Concrete is good as a construction material regarding fire and its properties regarding strength. However, the concrete expands and cracks due to fire resulting in structural damage. According to the literature the concrete usually loses its strength during and after fire exposure due to themechanical and physical changes.Concrete consists of cement, water, aggregates of different sizes, and usually some sort of plasticiser depending on its final use. Globally the concrete production releases about 4.5 billionmetric tons of carbon dioxide, which is about 8% of all the emissions of carbon dioxide in the world (Naturskyddsföreningen, 2022).The main components in cement are limestone and marlstone which are melted and turned to clinker. The clinker is mixed with sand and gypsum to make cement. Due to the high releases of carbon dioxide from the production of cement and the destruction of the environment mining of the raw materials, Sweden had a concrete-crisis in the summer of 2021, this was due to the government denied the main cement company Cementa AB to continue to mine limestone on the island of Gotland. Due to this decision new sustainable components to replace the components to produce concrete is critical. An alternative material called biochar may be suitable as a component in concrete. Biochar is a renewable product from pyrolysis of biomass. The favorable properties of biochar such as low density, high specific area and low thermal conductivity has the potential to lower the carbon footprint of concrete. This thesis evaluates the properties and performance for different biochar ratios mixed within concrete before and after exposure to fire in a furnace that followed the standard ISO 834 curve up to 650 ℃. In particular, experiments were conducted to observe how the mechanical properties (e.g., tensile and compressive strengths) are affected by exposure to fire that caused a temperature rise of up to 650 ℃. By analyzing the results from the experiments, it is seen that the workability of the concrete decreases with higher ratios of biochar due to the biochar’s water absorption properties. The compressive and tensile strength tests before fire exposure, for both aggregate and cement replaced samples, resulted in the average strength decreasing with higher ratios of biochar. Interestingly, iiithe results after fire exposure represented higher compressive strengths for both cement and aggregate replaced samples for all ratios of biochar. However, the tensile strength after fire exposure generally decreased with higher ratios of biochar. Differential scanning calorimetry and infrared spectroscopy were performed to gain an insight into the reason for the increase in compressive strength after fire exposure. Most probably, when the silica, present in the cement, was exposed to 650 °C under fire, it softened and fused the other components, which led to stronger compressive strengths.

A high priority in order to combat climate change is disposal of waste. In low-income countries, a large portion of biomass residues generated in the forestry, agricultural and industrial sectors could be usable, instead of being seen as waste. For instance, it could be converted into biochar, which is proven to have many environmental benefits. In Rwanda, the agricultural sector employs 80% of the population and accounts for 35% of GDP. This sector, together with later refinement of crops and forestry production, cause large amounts of residue that many times is considered as waste. In this report, a literature study was conducted to evaluate possible biochar production from agricultural and wood wastes in Rwanda. Characteristics that determine if a biomass could be suitable for a biochar production were identified as C, H, O, N, S, hemicellulose, cellulose, lignin, ash and moisture content, residue-to-product ratio, and low heating value. These characteristics were assessed for the chosen Rwandan agricultural and wood wastes, by compiling values from published reports. The result shows that there are large volumes of residues that have potential for biochar production instead of being seen as waste in Rwanda. Biochar production from these wastes could enable environmental benefits for Rwanda, although further investigation of each single biomass could be needed in order to see if it is practically, technically and financially possible to do in reality. / För att bekämpa klimatförändringen är avfallshantering en hög prioritet. I låginkomstländer kan en stor andel av biomassarester som genereras i skogsbruk, jordbruks- och industrisektorer vara användbara, istället för att ses som avfall. Till exempel skulle det kunna omvandlas till biokol, som har visats sig ha många miljömässiga fördelar. I Rwanda arbetar 80% av befolkningen inom jordbrukssektorn och den står för 35% av BNP. Denna sektor, tillsammans med förädling av grödor och skogsbruksproduktion, orsakar stora mängder rester som många gånger betraktas som avfall. I denna rapport genomfördes en litteraturstudie för att utvärdera möjlig produktion av biokol från jordbruks- och träavfall i Rwanda. Egenskaper som avgör om en biomassa kan vara lämplig för en biokolsproduktion identifierades som C-, H-, O-, N-, S-, hemicellulosa-, cellulosa-, lignin-, ask- och fukthalt, samt andel avfall som uppstår i förhållande till färdig produkt och värmevärde. Dessa egenskaper utvärderades för det valda jordbruks- och träavfallet genom att sammanställa värden från publicerade rapporter. Resultatet visar att det finns stora volymer rester som har potential för biokolsproduktion istället för att ses som avfall i Rwanda. En biokolsproduktion från dessa avfall skulle kunna ge miljömässiga fördelar för Rwanda, även om ytterligare undersökning av varje enskild biomassa skulle behövas för att se om det är praktiskt, tekniskt och ekonomiskt möjligt att genomföra i verkligheten.

Klimatförändringar till följd av den ökande halten koldioxid i atmosfären är en växande utmaning. Som följd av detta har Uppsala kommun ökat sina hållbarhetsinsatser, varav biokol har visat sig vara ett lovande alternativ. Biokol fungerar som en kolsänka genom att lagra kol långsiktigt i marken, samtidigt som det förbättrar jordens struktur och näringsinnehåll. Denna rapport syftar till att utforska möjligheterna till att upprätta en biokolsanläggning inom Uppsala kommun. För att utreda möjligheterna till en sådan anläggning utförs analys av tillgängligt biomassaflöde, utvärdering av pyrolysteknik samt identifiering av platsspecifika begränsningar. Därtill har tillstånd och krav på en anläggning identifierats och sammanställts.  Metoden bygger på ett teoretiskt ramverk, som appliceras för att utvärdera och sedan maximera lönsamheten vid rekommendation av plats. Intervjuer har genomförts, för att skapa en förståelse för teknik och drift samt för att fastställa diverse kostnadsposter. En budgetkalkyl har sedan skapats utifrån kartlagda kostnader, för vilken en finansiell analys sedan utförts. Med utgångspunkt i den analysen har lämpliga platser valts ut, vilka kompletterats med en rekommendation av optimal teknik och resurshantering. Miljörelaterade externaliteter för rekommenderade platser har tilldelats ett monetärt värde, för att sedan sammanvägas med det finansiella resultatet i en kostnads- och nyttoanalys Utifrån avgränsningen att det finns en stabil marknad och efterfrågan på biokol, har analysen resulterat i en hög avkastning på de rekommenderade investeringarna, samt en märkbar förbättring då externaliteterna inkluderas. Resulterande slutsatser har varit klimatnyttor skulle utgöra en stor del av lönsamheten för Uppsala kommun, men att avgränsningen riskerar att ge missvisande finansiella resultat. Framtida arbeten bör med fördel kartlägga marknaden för biokolsproduktion, samt analysera och utvärdera pris och efterfrågan för avsättningar. / Climate change due to the increasing levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, is a growing challenge. As a result, Uppsala Municipality has increased its sustainability efforts, among which biochar has proven to be a promising alternative. Biochar acts as a carbon sink by storing carbon long-term in the soil, while also improving soil structure and nutrient content. This report aims to explore the possibilities for establishing a biochar facility within Uppsala Municipality. To investigate the feasibility of such a facility, an analysis of available biomass flow, evaluation of pyrolysis technology, and identification of site-specific constraints are conducted. Additionally, the permits and requirements for a facility have been identified and compiled. The methodology is based on a theoretical framework, applied to evaluate and then maximize profitability when recommending a site. Interviews have been conducted to understand technology and operations, and to determine various cost items. A budget calculation has been created based on identified costs, for which a financial analysis has then been performed. Based on this analysis, suitable sites have been selected, complemented with a recommendation of optimal technology and resource management. Environmental externalities for recommended sites have been assigned a monetary value, which is then combined with the financial result in a cost-benefit analysis. Assuming a stable market and demand for biochar, the analysis has resulted in a high return on the recommended investments, along with a noticeable improvement when externalities are included. The resulting conclusions indicate that climate benefits would constitute a significant part of the profitability for Uppsala Municipality, but that the assumption risks providing misleading financial results. Future work would benefit from mapping out the market for biochar production, as well as analyzing and evaluating the price and demand for biochar outputs.

Concerns about potential risks posed by discharge from small-scale wastewater treatment (SWT) systems to receiving water bodies have prompted robust enforcement of national discharge quality standards in rural areas of most developed countries. Consequently, communities in such places are in need of effective technologies with which to achieve compliance. Currently, reactive filter (RF) media are increasingly preferred over advanced alternatives, due mainly to their simplicity, affordability and proven potential. However, many of the field-tested filters are commercial products which are costly and scarce but also only capable of removing few contaminants they are engineered to target hence often requiring to be coupled with other treatment units to achieve full treatment. In the preliminary findings of this study, biochar (BC) was identified and thus suggested basing on existing literature, as a versatile ubiquitous low-cost material for treating wastewater. Its effectiveness in fortifying sand (Sa) and gas concrete (GC)-based SWT facilities was later demonstrated in long-term experiments using laboratory packed bed reactors and field constructed filter beds. The efficacy of SaBC and GCBC systems in reducing turbidity (&gt;95%), DOC (60%; p&lt;0.05) and PO43- (40-90%; p&lt;0.05) was significantly higher than for their reference counterparts. Further, sorbed P was more leachable from Sa (11.2 mgkg-1) and SaBC (20.5 mgkg-1) filters but more extractable and hence plant-available in GC (65-91 mgkg-1). Therefore, the study concluded that fortification of soil-based systems with biochar filters may be a promising solution in enhancing performances of soil-based wastewater treatment systems, while P-rich RF media can act as a nutrient source for plants if recycled to agriculture. / <p>NB: Research Funder was: Botswana International University of Science and Technology, Botswana. QC 20170524</p>

A loss of soil organic matter (SOM), whether through natural means or management practices, results in soil degradation. Biochar as a soil amendment can alter soil properties, ultimately affecting the availability of nitrogen and water to plants and thus crop growth. The effects of biochar are not definitive, and often dependent on both the soil type and the biochar applied. Biochar properties can change according to the feedstock and production parameters, thus for their effective use further investigation is required to link biochar properties to its effects in soil. A high-temperature (600˚ C) biochar from a mixed-hardwood feedstock was investigated. The biochar increased the soil water retention, as demonstrated by a water release curve and field trials. This retention was predominant at higher water potentials, which was attributed to the greater number of meso (storage) pores in the biochar. Biochar did not affect the soil’s saturated hydraulic conductivity; this is thought to be due to the low number of macro (transmission) pores in the biochar. Thus there was no effect on the transmission rate in the soil. Biochar reduced gross ammonium levels in the soil via adsorption, but resulted in increased non-exchangeable ammonium levels, possibly due to physical entrapment. Where carbon was already abundant in the organically managed soil, the adsorbed ammonium reduced nitrification through lower substrate availability. The range of carbon fractions added as a result of the biochar amendment increased the total organic carbon (TOC) content of the soil, but this supplementary carbon was released by the microorganisms as carbon dioxide. Microorganisms in the relatively carbon poor conventionally managed soil (with lower TOC), assimilated the additional labile carbon increasing microbial biomass. The higher microbial biomass, combined with improvements in pH and the higher ammonium levels (as a result of the ammoniacal fertiliser) increased nitrification. These changes in water and nitrogen availability did not alter crop yields as measured in the glasshouse and field trials. The effects of this biochar in a sandy agricultural soil depended on the type and level of carbon and nitrogen present in the soil, thus consideration of these factors should be taken when applying.

A new complex aspect in the matter of water quality is the occurrence of emerging organic pollutants and contaminants in waste water. The currently low extent to which treatment of waste water is performed in Brazil, and in the world as a whole, there is a considerable need for development of cheap and accurate in-situ sampling methods for far-reaching studies of surface water quality. The lack of such methods today makes the maintenance and establishing of sanitary safety difficult. This diploma work gives a brief introduction to the basic principles of the passive sampling method known as Diffusive Gradient in Thin-films (DGT). A method that could be useful for such monitoring of quality in water bodies world wide. The aim of this study is to develop a method, for the detection of organic emerging pollutants and contaminants – i.e. compounds, which usually are present at very low concentrations when found in the environment as a result of human activity. More specifically, this work investigates the potential and usefulness of the application of DGT devices in detection of organic compounds that can affect human health and ecosystems, even at low concentrations, however, their effects still are in need of further investigations. This study focuses on both purely technical as well as practical points of views. The efficiency of organic DGT (o-DGT) with biochar as the adsorbing agent is examined targeting the detection of organic pollutants and contaminants in surface water. In this sense, the specific aim of the work is to evaluate the performance of biochar as adsorbing agent. This work showed that the performance of biochar as the adsorbing agent in binding layers in o-DGT sample devices can be considered as satisfactory since all compounds of interest in this study was successfully detected, quantified an identified. Further investigations in the future are needed to determine the effects of varying pH, temperature and ion concentration in the deployment media, as well as the properties of the binding layer in relation to concentration of biochar and the thickness of the layer. These in order to optimize the method for in-situ water sampling, aiming conventional use of biochar as the adsorbing agent in the future.

Contaminated land is a widespread, global issue affecting millions of people. Atrazine is a commonly used herbicide which often contaminates groundwater and drinking water supplies and is associated with adverse health outcomes. Biochar is the solid product of pyrolysis and is associated with several environmental benefits. It may be an effective remediation tool when used as a soil amendment. This thesis investigates the mechanisms through which biochar can immobilise atrazine, and the implications of the mechanisms for remediating contaminated land. Nine biochar samples were obtained from the United Kingdom Biochar Research Centre , which were produced from softwood pellets (SWP), wheat straw pellets (WSP), miscanthus straw pellets (MSP), rice husk (RH) and oil seed rape (OSR) each at pyrolysis temperatures of 550°C and 700°C (excluding OSR at 700°C). The sorption mechanisms controlling atrazine sorption to these biochars were determined through various characterisation methods and batch sorption experiments. The sorption tests showed that sorption to each of the standard biochars occurs via multiple simultaneously occurring mechanisms, which are each promoted under certain conditions. Studies investigating sorption kinetics, isotherms and interactions with humic acids showed that for all biochars in this study, pore filling was a significant process through which atrazine is transported to adsorption sites, although poor intraparticle diffusion for softwood and oil seed rape biochars can prevent efficient transport. Wheat straw and rice husk biochars showed effective pore diffusion, resulting in high sorption capacities. Partitioning was associated with poor remediation outcomes and was significant to softwood biochars, although adsorption dominated overall sorption for all other biochars. pH was shown to significantly influence the occurrence of various sorption mechanisms. At low pH values, most biochars showed evidence of electrostatic repulsion between positive atrazine species and the positively charged biochar surface. At intermediate pH values, all biochars showed strong hydrogen bonding between H+ groups on the surface of the biochar and atrazine. A meta-analysis of previous relevant studies provided further evidence for hydrogen bonding of atrazine to biochar and showed that hydrophobic effects likely play little role in adsorption after accounting for the effects of surface area. Varying contributions of π-π EDA interactions, hydrogen bonding involving biochar O- groups, and interactions with ash minerals resulted in different sorption profiles for each biochar at high pH values. In order to further determine the mechanisms controlling sorption at high pH, surface compositions of SWP550, RH700 and OSR550 biochars were modified using hydrofluoric acid. Modification with hydrofluoric acid successfully removed the ash contents of rice husk and oil seed rape biochars and reduced atrazine removal at high pH values. This suggested that the ash fraction increases atrazine removal at high pH through complexation or catalytic hydrolysis. The roles of the various mechanisms are related to remediation outcomes in a novel manner allowing for the improved design of biochar for environmental remediation.

Submitted by JOSIANE SANTOS DE OLIVEIRA (josianeso) on 2019-03-25T12:12:43Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Suellen Brasil Schröpfer_.pdf: 1391520 bytes, checksum: 0844b5c8e4465d26543bb978bfd9d940 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2019-03-25T12:12:43Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Suellen Brasil Schröpfer_.pdf: 1391520 bytes, checksum: 0844b5c8e4465d26543bb978bfd9d940 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-12-14 / CAPES - Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / A Organização das Nações Unidas (ONU) afirma que até 2050 a população mundial atingirá o número de 9,7 bilhões de pessoas, o que aumentará a demanda de energia e a necessidade de ampliação da produção agrícola. Para tanto, será necessário manter um equilíbrio entre as plantações, a fim de que o setor agrícola possa suprir tanto a indústria de combustíveis alternativos, como o ramo alimentício. O arroz é uma das principais culturas plantadas no Brasil e, gera de 20 a 30% do seu peso em casca de arroz, um resíduo sólido agroindustrial com potencial de aplicabilidade na indústria e uma importante fonte de produção de calor. A casca de arroz pode ser convertida em fonte energética por meio de técnicas de decomposição termoquímica, sendo a pirólise à vácuo um destes métodos. Durante a conversão energética da biomassa são produzidos bio-óleo, gás não-condensável e biocarvão. Este último é um material sólido com alto teor de carbono, que pode ser utilizado como combustível, insumo para produção de produtos químicos, agente condicionador de solo e para diversas outras aplicações. Esta pesquisa teve como objetivo estudar a influência dos parâmetros de operação da pirólise à vácuo na produção de biocarvão a partir da casca de arroz (BCA). Os parâmetros avaliados foram: temperatura máxima de operação (400, 550 e 700 °C), taxa de aquecimento (5 e 20 °C min-1) e tempo de residência da biomassa no reator (5 e 30 minutos). O rendimento médio obtido de BCA foi de 60%, sendo que a temperatura máxima foi o parâmetro de operação que causou maior efeito na produção de biocarvão. A média dos teores de cinzas, carbono fixo e matéria volátil presentes nos biocarvões foram de 51, 22 e 19 %, respectivamente. Em geral, os BCAs apresentaram um comportamento próximo à neutralidade (6,0 - 7,5) com uma condutividade elétrica variando de 21 a 44 S/com. / The United Nations (UN) says that by 2050 the world population will reach 9.7 billion people, which will increase energy demand and the need to expand agricultural production. Therefore, it will be necessary to maintain a balance in agricultural production, in order that the sector can supply both the alternative fuels and the food industries. Rice is one of the main crops planted in Brazil and generates from 20 to 30% of its weight in rice husks. The rice husk is an agro-industrial residue with potential of applicability in the industry and an important source of heat production. Rice husk can be converted into an energy source by means of thermochemical decomposition techniques, with vacuum pyrolysis being one of these methods. When converted to an energy source through vacuum pyrolysis, it generates biochar, non-condensable gases and biooil. Biochar is a solid material with high carbon content, which can be used as fuel, input for producing chemicals, soil conditioning agent and other industrial applications. This research aimed to study the influence of vacuum pyrolysis operation parameters on the production of rice husk biochar (RHB). The parameters evaluated were: maximum operating temperature (400, 550 and 700 °C), heating rate (5 and 20 °C/min) and residence time of biomass into reactor (5 and 30 minutes). The average yield obtained from RHB was 60%, and the maximum operation temperature was the variable that most influenced the results. The average mass fractions of ash, fixed carbon and volatile matter present in the biochars were 51%, 22% and 19%, respectively. In general, the RHBs presented a close to neutrality (6.0-7.5) behavior and a conductivity ranging from 21 to 44 µS/com.

Rising world petroleum prices and global warming are contributing to interest in renewable energy sources, including energy produced from agricultural crops and waste sources of biomass. A network of small mobile pyrolysis units may be the most cost effective system to convert biomass from agricultural feedstocks to bio-crude oil. Mobile pyrolysis units could be moved to the feedstock production fields thereby greatly simplifying feedstock logistics. In the North Central (NC) region of the U.S., possible feedstocks are corn stover, energy sorghum, and switchgrass. A grid-based Geographic Information System (GIS) program was developed to identify optimum locations for mobile pyrolysis units based on feedstock availability in the NC region. Model builder was used to automate the GIS analysis. Network analysis was used to find the best route to move the mobile pyrolysis units to new locations and to identify the closest refinery to transport the bio-crude oil. To produce bioenergy from feedstocks, the removal of biomass from agricultural fields will impact the hydrology and sediment transport in rural watersheds. Therefore, the hydrologic effects of removing corn stover from corn production fields in Illinois (IL) were evaluated using the Soil Water Assessment Tool (SWAT). The SWAT model was calibrated and validated for streamflow and sediment yields in the Spoon River basin in IL using observed data from the USGS. The modeling results indicated that as residue removal rates increased, evapotranspiration (ET) and sediment yields increased, while streamflows decreased. Biochar is a carbon-based byproduct of pyrolysis. To ensure that the mobile pyrolysis system is economically and environmental sustainable, the biochar must be land applied to the feedstock production fields as a soil amendment. An assessment of hydrologic changes due to the land application of biochar was made using the SWAT model in the Spoon River basin and changes in soil properties due to incorporation of biochar into the soil obtained from laboratory experiments by Cook et al. (2012). Model simulations indicated that a biochar application rate of 128 Mg/ha decreased water yield, and sediment yield in surface runoff and increased soil moisture and ET.