Pyrolysis of Empty Fruit Bunch by Thermogravimetric Analysis

AbstractThe purpose of this paper is to study the characteristics of as received and wet-treated empty fruit bunch (EFB) for bio-oil production via pyrolysis technology. The elemental properties of the feedstock were characterized by an elemental analyzer while thermal properties were investigated using thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA). The pyrolysis process was being carried out at room temperature up to 700°C in the presence of nitrogen gas flowing at 150ml/min. The investigated parameters are particle sizes and heating rate. The particle sizes varied in the range of dp1<0.25mm and 0.25≤ dp2<0.30mm. The heating rates used were 50°C/min and 80°C/min. From the results obtain, smaller particle size dp1 produces 10% less char yields, while higher heating rate of 80°C/min increases rate of decomposition by almost 1mg/s. Treatment process reduces char yields of dp2 by a total of 5%. This study can provide an important basis in determining suitable properties of EFB and pyrolysis parameter for bio-fuel production via pyrolysis

Design of bench-scale fast pyrolysis reactor for bio-fuel production

Fast pyrolysis technology had been studied extensively with a purpose to utilize biomass for fuel and energy application. The main product from this process, bio-oil can be further processed into transportation fuel, power generation and chemicals. The most challenging aspect is to develop an economic viable platform for processing capital. Biomass contains low energy content of ~150kg/m3, which corresponds to high transportation cost from source to processing plant. Conversion of biomass into liquid fuels can increase the energy content by 10 times higher and reduce transport cost up to 87 %

Investigation on thermochemical behaviour of Malaysia biomasses via Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA)

Biomass is a renewable resource with great potential as an alternative to fossil fuels for supplying energy. The flash pyrolysis process has been subject of intense research in the last decades in converting biomass into a convenient and effective fuel Thermogravimetric analysis , (TGA) is used to study the thermal behaviour of carbonaceous materials. In the present study, the characteristics and thermal decomposition behaviour of eight local biomasses (empty fruit bunch (EFB). oil palm trunk (OPT), rice husk, coconut copra, saw dust, coconut shell, bagasse and wood bark) in Malaysia upon fast pyrolysis were studied. The elemental properties of the feedstock were characterized by an elemental analyzer while thermal properties were investigated using thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA). Analysis is carried out in an inert nitrogen atmosphere from ambient temperature to 700 °C. In this work, the particle sizes varied in the range of 0.30< dp <0.50 mm at a heating rate of 80 °C/min. Three reaction zones corresponding to moisture evolution, hemiceilulose-cellulose degradation and lignin degradation are observed for all the biomass samples. The resuits show that, Phase I (moisture evolution) was identified between 25 and 137 °C for saw dust as indicated in DTG curve and has highest peak among the samples. Two distinct evolution profiles were observed for coconut shell, coconut copra, bagasse, rice husk and EFB at Phase 11 (devolatilization). At Phase III (lignin decomposition), it is observed that the lignin gradually degrades over a wide range of temperature (450-700 °C). However, when the temperature reaches 650 °C, the degradation rates are no longer significant as most volatiles had already been pyrolysed

Thermal characterization of Malaysian biomass via thermogravimetric analysis

In this work, thermal degradation behavior of six local biomasses such as empty fruit bunch, rice husk, coconut pulp, saw dust, coconut shell, and sugarcane bagasse in Malaysia via pyrolysis was studied. The pyrolysis process was carried out from 25 to 700 °C under nitrogen atmosphere flowing at 150 ml/min via a thermogravimetric analyzer. The effect of biomass type was investigated on pyrolysis behavior. The particle size of biomass was in the range of 0.3 ≤ dp1 < 0.5 mm, whereas the heating rate was fixed at 80 °C/min. The thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) data were divided into three phases of degradation: moisture evolution, hemicellulose-cellulose degradation, and lignin degradation. The results showed that all biomass samples degraded between 25 and 170 °C in Phase I of moisture evolution. Among the biomass samples, coconut pulp achieved the highest mass loss (81.9%) in Phase II of hemicellulose-cellulose degradation. Lignin in all biomass samples gradually degraded from 450 to 700 °C in Phase III of lignin degradation. This study provides an important basis in understanding the intrinsic thermochemistry behind degradation reactions

Investigation of oil palm wastes' pyrolysis by thermogravimetric analyzer for potential biofuel production

The aim of this study is to investigate the thermal degradation behaviour of oil palm trunk (OPT) and empty fruit bunch (EFB) wastes in pyrolytic environment by using thermagravimetric analyzer (TGA). The pyrolysis process was being carried out at room temperature up to 700°C in the presence of nitrogen gas flowing at the rate of 150 ml/min. The investigated parameters are particle sizes and heating rates. The particle sizes varied in the range of dp1 < 0.25 mm and 0.25 ≤ dp bsubesub ≤ 0.30 mm. The heating rate of 50°C/min and 80°C/min were applied to study the effect on thermal degradation during the progress of pyrolysis reaction. The decomposition of OPT shows a 'shoulder' form while EFB degrades with 2 distinctive peaks. Smaller OPT size produces 0.04-0.86% more volatile product when degraded at both heating rates. EFB on the other hand shows a 3.81-9.81% increment. Heating rates speed up the peak degradation by 1.42-1.56 mg/s at dp1 and 3.13-4.92 mg/s at dp2. It also causes biomass to be degraded under a narrow temperature range by 21°C. This study can provide an important basis in determining suitable type of feedstock and processing parameters for bio-fuel production via advanced pyrolysis technology

Thermogravimetric analysis of rice husk and coconut pulp for potential biofuel production by flash pyrolysis

The purpose of this paper is to study the characteristics and thermal degradation behavior of rice husk and coconut pulp for biofuel production via flash pyrolysis technology. The elemental properties of the feedstock were characterized by an elemental analyzer while thermal properties were investigated using thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA). The pyrolysis processes were carried out at room temperature up to 700°C in the presence of nitrogen gas flowing at 150 ml/min. The investigated parameters are particle sizes and heating rates. The particle sizes varied in the range of dp1 < 0.30 mm and 0.30≤ dp2 < 0.50 mm. The heating rates applied were 50°C/min and 80°C/min. It was shown smaller particle size produces 2.11-3.59% less volatile product when pyrolized at 50°C/min compared to 80°C/min. Higher heating rates causes biomass degrades in a narrow temperature range by 25°C. It also increases the maximum peak rate by 0.01 mg/s for rice husk at dp1 and 0.02 mg/s at dp2. In case of coconut pulp, the change is not significant for dp1 but for dp2a 0.02 mg/s changes was recorded