Evaluation of Oil Palm Biomass Potential for Bio-oil Production via Pyrolysis Processes

The yield and quality of bio-oil obtained from pyrolysis processes depends on many factors, including pyrolysis types, reactor types, operating conditions and biomass property. The objective of this work was therefore to evaluate the potential of oil palm biomass, including oil palm trunk (OPT), oil palm fronds (OPF), oil palm decanter (DC) and oil palm root (OPR) for producing bio-oil via pyrolysis processes. The potential of oil palm biomass was considered in terms of proximate analysis, ultimate analysis, heating value, equivalent heating value, Thermogravimetric analyser (TGA) and lignocellulose content. The results showed that the moisture content of fried samples was in the range of 7.5-10.7% (w.b), which was relatively low and appropriate for pyrolysis. The volatile content of OPT and OPF was higher than 72% (wt.). The carbon, oxygen and hydrogen content of oil palm samples were in the range of 41.5-45.6, 30.7-40.2 and 5.7-5.9% (wt.), respectively. The higher heating value (HHV) of samples was relatively low compared to the HHV of fossil fuels. The OPT and OPF had high cellulose and hemicellulose content, while provided low lignin content compared to the lignin content of DC and OPR. The TGA results showed that thermal decomposition of samples took place within the range of 200–450 °C, which the lignin content affected the thermal decomposition trend. These results revealed that the selected oil palm biomass had relatively high potential for producing bio-oil via pyrolysis processes, particularly the OPT and OPF

Monthly palliative pelvic radiotherapy in advanced carcinoma of uterine cervix

Background: Patients with locally advanced cervical cancer are often severely distressed with incessant vaginal bleeding, offensive discharge and pelvic pain and are in some instances are beyond curative potential. At our institution we routinely use monthly palliative pelvic radiotherapy for these patients. Methods and Material: One hundred patients treated between 2000 & 2004 were included in this analysis. Patients were treated with parallel-opposed pelvic portals with megavoltage radiation monthly up to a maximum of three fractions (10Gy/ fraction). Patients with good response after second fraction were considered for intracavitary brachytherapy delivering 30Gy to point A. Response was documented with regard to relief of bleeding, vaginal discharge and pelvic pain. The other aspects evaluated were patient compliance, disease response, toxicity and survival. Results: Sixty-eight percent had FIGO stage IIIB, 12% had stage IVA and 14% had IVB disease. Twenty patients had metastatic disease. The median symptom duration was 5 months. Majority (67%) presented with vaginal bleeding, followed by discharge (69%) and pelvic pain (48%). All patients received at least one fraction of palliative pelvic radiotherapy. Sixty-one patients received the second fraction and 33 the third. Five patients received an intracavitary application. The overall response rates in terms of control of bleeding, discharge and pain were 100%, 49% and 33% respectively. The treatment was generally well tolerated with a median survival of 7 months. Conclusions: Monthly palliative pelvic radiotherapy results in satisfactory control of symptoms in patients with locally advanced carcinoma of cervix with acceptable complications

Comparative Investigation of Yield and Quality of Bio-Oil and Biochar from Pyrolysis of Woody and Non-Woody Biomasses

This study investigated the quantitative and qualitative attributes of liquid product and biochar obtained from pyrolysis of woody biomass (rubberwood sawdust (RWS)) and non-woody biomasses (oil palm trunk (OPT) and oil palm fronds (OPF)). The prepared biomass was pyrolyzed at temperatures of 500 °C, 550 °C, and 600 °C by using an agitated bed pyrolysis reactor, and then the yields and characteristics of liquid product and biochar were determined. The results showed that liquid product and biochar yields were in the respective ranges of 35.94–54.40% and 23.46–25.98% (wt.). Pyrolysis of RWS at 550 °C provided the highest liquid yield. The energy content of the water free liquid product was in the range 12.19–22.32 MJ/kg. The liquid product had a low pH and it mainly contained phenol groups as indicated by GC-MS. The biochars had high carbon contents (75.07–82.02%), while their oxygen contents were low (14.22–22%). The higher heating value (HHV) of biochar was in the range 26.42–29.33 MJ/kg. XRF analysis revealed that inorganic elements had higher contents in biochar than in the original biomass. The slagging and fouling indexes of biochar were also different from those of the biomass. High carbon content of the biochar confirms potential for its use in carbon sequestration. The specific surface of biochar was lower than that of biomass, while the average pore diameter of biochar was larger than for raw biomass as revealed by BET and SEM. These results on liquid product and biochar obtained from RWS, OPT, and OPF demonstrate that they are promising feedstocks for biofuels and other value-added products

Evaluation of Oil Palm Biomass Potential for Bio-oil Production via Pyrolysis Processes

The yield and quality of bio-oil obtained from pyrolysis processes depends on many factors, including pyrolysis types, reactor types, operating conditions and biomass property. The objective of this work was therefore to evaluate the potential of oil palm biomass, including oil palm trunk (OPT), oil palm fronds (OPF), oil palm decanter (DC) and oil palm root (OPR) for producing bio-oil via pyrolysis processes. The potential of oil palm biomass was considered in terms of proximate analysis, ultimate analysis, heating value, equivalent heating value, Thermogravimetric analyser (TGA) and lignocellulose content. The results showed that the moisture content of fried samples was in the range of 7.5-10.7% (w.b), which was relatively low and appropriate for pyrolysis. The volatile content of OPT and OPF was higher than 72% (wt.). The carbon, oxygen and hydrogen content of oil palm samples were in the range of 41.5-45.6, 30.7-40.2 and 5.7-5.9% (wt.), respectively. The higher heating value (HHV) of samples was relatively low compared to the HHV of fossil fuels. The OPT and OPF had high cellulose and hemicellulose content, while provided low lignin content compared to the lignin content of DC and OPR. The TGA results showed that thermal decomposition of samples took place within the range of 200–450 °C, which the lignin content affected the thermal decomposition trend. These results revealed that the selected oil palm biomass had relatively high potential for producing bio-oil via pyrolysis processes, particularly the OPT and OPF

Comparative Investigation of Yield and Quality of Bio-Oil and Biochar from Pyrolysis of Woody and Non-Woody Biomasses

This study investigated the quantitative and qualitative attributes of liquid product and biochar obtained from pyrolysis of woody biomass (rubberwood sawdust (RWS)) and non-woody biomasses (oil palm trunk (OPT) and oil palm fronds (OPF)). The prepared biomass was pyrolyzed at temperatures of 500 °C, 550 °C, and 600 °C by using an agitated bed pyrolysis reactor, and then the yields and characteristics of liquid product and biochar were determined. The results showed that liquid product and biochar yields were in the respective ranges of 35.94–54.40% and 23.46–25.98% (wt.). Pyrolysis of RWS at 550 °C provided the highest liquid yield. The energy content of the water free liquid product was in the range 12.19–22.32 MJ/kg. The liquid product had a low pH and it mainly contained phenol groups as indicated by GC-MS. The biochars had high carbon contents (75.07–82.02%), while their oxygen contents were low (14.22–22%). The higher heating value (HHV) of biochar was in the range 26.42–29.33 MJ/kg. XRF analysis revealed that inorganic elements had higher contents in biochar than in the original biomass. The slagging and fouling indexes of biochar were also different from those of the biomass. High carbon content of the biochar confirms potential for its use in carbon sequestration. The specific surface of biochar was lower than that of biomass, while the average pore diameter of biochar was larger than for raw biomass as revealed by BET and SEM. These results on liquid product and biochar obtained from RWS, OPT, and OPF demonstrate that they are promising feedstocks for biofuels and other value-added products

Monthly palliative pelvic radiotherapy in advanced carcinoma of uterine cervix

Background: Patients with locally advanced cervical cancer are often severely distressed with incessant vaginal bleeding, offensive discharge and pelvic pain and are in some instances are beyond curative potential. At our institution we routinely use monthly palliative pelvic radiotherapy for these patients. Methods and Material: One hundred patients treated between 2000 & 2004 were included in this analysis. Patients were treated with parallel-opposed pelvic portals with megavoltage radiation monthly up to a maximum of three fractions (10Gy/ fraction). Patients with good response after second fraction were considered for intracavitary brachytherapy delivering 30Gy to point A. Response was documented with regard to relief of bleeding, vaginal discharge and pelvic pain. The other aspects evaluated were patient compliance, disease response, toxicity and survival. Results: Sixty-eight percent had FIGO stage IIIB, 12% had stage IVA and 14% had IVB disease. Twenty patients had metastatic disease. The median symptom duration was 5 months. Majority (67%) presented with vaginal bleeding, followed by discharge (69%) and pelvic pain (48%). All patients received at least one fraction of palliative pelvic radiotherapy. Sixty-one patients received the second fraction and 33 the third. Five patients received an intracavitary application. The overall response rates in terms of control of bleeding, discharge and pain were 100%, 49% and 33% respectively. The treatment was generally well tolerated with a median survival of 7 months. Conclusions: Monthly palliative pelvic radiotherapy results in satisfactory control of symptoms in patients with locally advanced carcinoma of cervix with acceptable complications