PYROLYSIS OF BIOMASS TO LIQUID FUEL

Abstract

Jatropha curcas seed cake was pyrolysed in a fixed-bed reactor. The effects of pyrolysis temperature, particle size and N2 gas flow rates on the yields of the products were investigated. Pyrolysis runs were performed using pyrolysis temperatures between 400 and 600 °C with heating rates of 10°C /min. The particle size and N2 gas flow rate varied in the ranges -6+8 to -8+12 mesh number and 50-150 cm3 /min respectively. The bio-oil obtained at 600°C was analysed and at this temperature the liquid product yield was the maximum. The various characteristics of bio-oil obtained under these conditions were identified on the basis of standard test methods. The empirical formula of the bio-oil with heating value of 37.3 MJ/kg was established as CH1.3900.28. The chemical characterization showed that the bio-oil obtained from Jatropha curcas seed cake may be potentially valuable as a fuel and chemical feedstock. Liquid products obtained under the most suitable conditions were characterized by elemental analyses, FTIR and HNMR. Gas chromatography and mass spectroscopy was achieved on n-pentane fractions. The results show that it is possible to obtain liquid products similar to petroleum from Jatropha curcas seed cake residue if the pyrolysis conditions are chosen accordingly.