Pretreatment of Coconut Shell by Torrefaction for Pyrolysis Conversion

This study describes the influence of torrefied coconut shell (CS) as solid fuel on pyrolysis product yield. The CS were torrefied and then pyrolysed in a fixed-bed reactor at different temperature and reaction time. The raw and torrefied CS were analysed for mass and energy yield, proximate analysis and ultimate analysis. The pyrolysis products yield were compared between raw CS and torrefied CS. The results showed that the properties of torrefied CS in terms of proximate and ultimate analysis were enhanced than raw CS. The calorific value for torrefied CS increased 17.17 MJ/kg to 22.25 MJ/kg. The optimum condition obtained for torrefaction pretreatment was at 275 °C and reaction time of 60 min. The highest bio-oil yield of 45% from pyrolysis process was at temperature and reaction time of 500 °C and 6 min, respectively. Thus, these results indicate torrefied CS was a suitable fuel feedstock to conduct in thermal conversion such as pyrolysis.

Analysis mixed characterization of Kalimantan coal and mangrove wood charcoal character as briquette raw material

This study using three types of coal from East Kalimantan and South Sulawesi Mangrove Wood Charcoal which consisted of various compositions. In sample analysis using analysis, namely: proximate, ultimate, and calorific value. Proximate analysis: ash content, volatile matter, moisture content, fixed carbon; ultimate analysis: carbon and sulfur content and the calorific value using the bomb calorimeter method. The results of the proximate analysis showed that the fixed carbon content was obtained in the mixture of MWC 75% + KJA 25% = 52.45%, while the lowest was obtained at IC 100% = 32.86%; The highest volatile matter was obtained at KJA 100% = 44.23%, the lowest was at MWC 75% + KJA 25% = 31.90%, the highest ash content was IC 100% = 9.14% the lowest was at MWC 75% + KJA 25% = 5.94% and the highest moisture content was seen at IC 100% = 15.17% but MWC 75% + IC 25% = 9.52%. The results of the ultimate analysis showed that the lowest sulfur content was in the mixed variation of MWC 75% + KJA 25% = 0.168%, while the highest sulfur content was obtained at IC 100% = 0.874%. However, it was still in the low sulfur category <1. The highest calorific value is obtained by varying the composition at MWC 75% + IC 25% = 5919 cal/gram, while the lowest was obtained at KJA 100% = 4913 cal/gram. So based on this research, the addition of mangrove charcoal is very good for increasing the calorific value.

Quantitative determination of energy potential of refuse derived fuel from the waste recovered from Indian landfill

Landfills are urban stocks and resource reservoirs for potential energy recovery. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the amount of energy that could be recovered from aged waste (around 5–20 yr old) recovered from landfills. Investigations were conducted on the physical and chemical properties of refuse-derived fuel (RDF) prepared from recovered landfill waste (RLW) in Andhra Pradesh, India. Waste characterization studies include determination of waste composition, proximity analysis, ultimate analysis, and energy content. The moisture content ranged between 25.7 to 31.3% and no trend was observed with age. In the ultimate analysis, the percentage of carbon increased from 42.9 to 71.7% with the age of the samples, this is due to an increase in the plastic content over time. The calorific value of the recovered landfill waste ranged from 10.4 to 21.8 MJ kg− 1. From the findings, it can be summarized that the RDF can potentially be utilized as a feedstock for the recovery of energy from RLW. The results from this study will assist policy makers and local authorities in designing and developing strategies for resource and energy recovery from landfills in different urban cites across the globe.

Preparation of bio-oil from Scenedesmus acutus using thermochemical liquefaction in a 1 L reactor

Biomass from microalgae is a potential feedstock for biofuels production. It poses no threat to food security as it does not compete with agricultural crops for arable land. Scenedesmus acutus was used as feedstock to produce bio-oil in a large liquefaction reactor. The influence of reaction temperature (280–360ºC), reaction atmosphere (N2 or CO2) and solvent on bio-oil yield, C-16 fatty acid yield and oil properties were investigated. Oils were characterised using gas chromatography, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and ultimate analysis. Higher bio-oil yields were obtained in a CO2 atmosphere (250 g.kg-1 dry microalgae) than in a N2 atmosphere (210 g.kg-1 dry microalgae) whilst higher C16 fatty acid concentrations (600 g.kg-1 bio-oil) were recorded in N2 atmosphere compared to oil prepared in a CO2 atmosphere (500 g.kg-1 bio-oil). The oil yield increased to a maximum at 320°C, after which there were no significant changes. Highest bio-oil yields (425 g.kg-1 dry microalgae) were obtained in ethanol as solvent. FTIR spectroscopy and ultimate analysis showed that proteins present in the feedstock were degraded by breakage of peptide linkages, and nitrogen present in the oils is peptide fragments from protein degradation. The carbon content of all produced oils was high, but the hydrogen content was low, leading to low hydrogen/carbon ratios. Energy consumption and energy efficiency calculations showed that liquefaction in both reaction atmospheres results in a net energy gain, and a CO2 atmosphere is best for high energy efficiency.

Experimental Study of Absorbent Hygiene Product devolatilization in a bubbling fluidized bed

This paper aims to investigate the usage of waste from Absorbent Hygienic Products (AHP) as a fuel for gasification or pyrolysis, two attractive routes to obtain valuable products and dispose of this kind of waste. The study experimentally investigated the devolatilization of coarsely shred-ded materials from diapers, in a laboratory-scale bubbling fluidized bed made of sand, as a rep-resentative preparatory step of above-mentioned thermochemical conversions. Two versions of shredded materials were considered: as-manufactured diapers (AHPam, as a reference), and the cellulosic fraction of sterilized used diapers (AHPus). Results were presented, obtained from physic-chemical characterization of AHPam and AHPus (TGA, CHNS/O, proximate and ultimate analysis, XRF, ICP-AES, SEM-EDS) and their devolatilizations at 500-600-700-800°C, under two different atmospheres (air plus nitrogen, or pure nitrogen as a reference). Generally, temperature had most influenced syngas composition, with better performances under pure nitrogen. At 700-800 °C under pure nitrogen, the highest syngas quality and yield were obtained. For AHPam and AHPus, respectively: (i) H2 richness equaled 29.5 vol% and 23.7 vol%, while hydrocarbons poorness equaled 14.8 vol% and 7.4 vol% on dry, dilution-free basis; (ii) 53.7 Nl 100 gfuel-1 and 46.0 Nl 100 gfuel-1 were produced. Overall, AHP emerged as an interesting fuel for thermochemical conversions.