Malaysian Journal of Analytical Sciences Vol 18 No 3 (2014): 705 – 710

 

 

 

THERMOGRAVIMETRIC ANALYSIS OF RICE HUSK AND COCONUT PULP FOR POTENTIAL BIOFUEL PRODUCTION BY FLASH PYROLYSIS

 

(Analisa Thermogravimetrik Sekam Padi dan Pulpa Kelapa Untuk Mengkaji Potensi Penghasilan Minyak Bio Melalui Pirolisis Pantas)

 

Noorhaza Alias¹, Norazana Ibrahim¹*, Mohd. Kamaruddin Abd. Hamid², Hasrinah Hasbullah³,

Roshafima Rasit Ali⁴, Aziatul Niza Sadikin⁴, Umi Aisah Asli⁴

 

¹UTM-MPRC Institute for Oil and Gas, Faculty of Petroleum and Renewable Energy Engineering,

²Process Systems of Engineering Centre, Faculty of Chemical Engineering,

³AMTEC, Faculty of Petroleum and Renewable Energy Engineering,

⁴Faculty of Chemical Engineering,

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 UTM Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia

 

*Corresponding author: norazana@petroleum.utm.my

 

 

Abstract

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 dp₂ a 0.02 mg/s changes was recorded.

 

Keywords: rice husk, coconut pulp, thermogravimetric analyses, flash pyrolysis, biofuel

 

Abstrak

Tujuan kajian ini dijalankan adalah untuk mengenalpasti ciri-ciri serta corak degradasi therma sekam padi dan pulpa kelapa bagi tujuan penghasilan minyak bio melalui proses pirolisis pantas. Komposisi unsur ditentukan dengan menggunakan penganalisa unsur manakala ciri-ciri therma dikaji menggunakan penganalisa thermogravimetrik (TGA). Proses degradasi therma dijalankan pada suhu bilik sehingga mencapai 700°C, dengan aliran gas nitrogen pada kadar 150 ml/min. Dua pemboleh ubah telah dikenalpasti sebagai fokus kajian iaitu saiz partikel dan kadar pemanasan. Saiz partikel yang digunakan adalah dp₁ < 0.30 mm dan 0.30≤ dp₂ <0.50 mm manakala kadar pemanasan ditetapkan pada suhu 50°C/min dan 80°C/min. Hasil kajian mendapati bahawa saiz partikel yang lebih kecil menghasilkan kurang produk meruap sebanyak 2.11 - 3.59% apabila diproses pada suhu 50°C/min. Kadar pemanasan yang tinggi menyebabkan kedua-dua sampel lupus pada jangka suhu yang lebih cepat iaitu sebanyak 25°C. Kadar degradasi maxima bagi sekam padi turut meningkat sebanyak 0.01 mg/s pada dp₁ dan 0.02 mg/s pada dp₂. Pulpa kelapa tidak mencatat sebarang perubahan yang signifikan pada dp₁ tetapi pada dp₂  peningkatan sebanyak 0.02 mg/s telah direkodkan.

 

Kata kunci: sekam padi, pulpa kelapa, analisa thermogravimetrik, pirolisis pantas, minyak bio

References

1.       Patel, B. and Gami, B. (2012). Biomass Characterization and its Use as Solid for Combustion. Iranica Journal of Energy and Environment, 123-128.

2.       Zafar, S., (2014). Bioenergy Developments in Malaysia. Retrieved from http://www.bioenergyconsult.com /tag/biomass-resources-in-malaysia/

3.       Jahirul, M. I., Rasul, M. G., Chowdhury, A. A. & Ashwath, N. (2012). Biofuels Production through Biomass Pyrolysis - A Technological Review. Energies 5: 4952-5001.

4.       Mansaray, K. G. and Ghaly, A. E. (1997). Physical and Thermochemical Properties of Rice Husk. Energy Sources, 27: 989-1004.

5.       Chuayjuljit, S., Eiumnoh, S. and Potiyaraj, P. (2001). Using Silica from Rice Husk as a Reinforcing Filler In Natural Rubber. Journal of Scientific Research Chulalongkorn University, 26: 127-137.

6.       Stenseng, M., Jensen, A. and Dam-Johansen, K. (2001). Investigation of Biomass Pyrolysis by Thermogravimetric Analysis and Differential Scanning Calorimetry. Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis 58-59: 765-780.

7.       Stresov, V., Moghtaderi, B. and Lucas, J. (2003). Thermal Study of Decomposition of Selected Biomass Samples. Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry, 72: 1041-1048.

8.       Wannapeera, J., Worasuwannarak, N. and Pipatmanomai, S. (2008). Product Yields and Characteristics of Rice Husk, Rice Straw and Corncob During Fast Pyrolysis in a Drop-Tube/Fixed-Bed Reactor. Songklanakarin J. Sci. Technol. 30 (3): 393-404.

9.       Ho, Y.S., and Ofomaja, A.E. (2006). Biosorption Thermodynamics of Cadmium on Coconut Copra Meal as Biosorbent. Biochemical Engineering Journal, 30: 117–123.

10.    Burhennea, L., Messmer, J., Aicher, T. and Laborie, M. (2013).  The Effect of The Biomass Components Lignin, Cellulose and Hemicellulose on TGA and Fixed Bed Pyrolysis. Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis, 101: 177–184.