Optimization of Products Yields from the Pyrolysis of Palm Kernel Shells Using Response Surface Methodology

This work focussed on the optimisation of product yields from the pyrolysis of palm kernel shells (PKS). 479g of dried PKS were loaded into the retort and then placed inside the furnace chamber and this was pyrolysed at 300, 400, 500, 600 and 700°C. The pyrolysis products obtained are char, tar (pyro oil and pyroligneous acid) and gas. A full factorial design (FFD) consisting two factors (Temperature and duration of pyrolysis) at three level was used to study the pattern of product yields from the pyrolysis of PKS. Char, tar and gas were evaluated as the responses. Thirteen experimental runs resulted from the FFD with a minimum product yield of 0.9wt% and maximum product yield of 99wt%. Response surface methodology was used to analyse the results of the FFD of the product yields of PKS. The optimum conversion yields expressed as a percentage of oven-dried weight of palm kernel shells of char, tar and gas products at their respective pyrolysing temperatures were 99wt% char at 304°C, 35wt% tar at 700°C and 39% gas at 700°C. The duration for the pyrolysis process was 20mins for 479g of dried palm kernel shells. The results of the work show that palm kernel shells can be readily pyrolised to obtain optimum yield of gas, tar (mixture of pyrolitic oil and pyroligneous acid) and char.