Title: Conversion of Siam weeds and rice straws to energy products and valuable chemicals via pyrolysis

Authors: Joseph K. Ogunjobi; Labunmi Lajide; Bodunde J. Owolabi

Addresses: Chemistry Department, The Federal University of Technology, PMB 704, Akure, Nigeria ' Chemistry Department, The Federal University of Technology, PMB 704, Akure, Nigeria ' Chemistry Department, The Federal University of Technology, PMB 704, Akure, Nigeria

Abstract: Increasing global warming has necessitated reduction in combustion of waste and encouraged their conversion into useful materials. Rice straw and Siam weed were valorised via pyrolysis in a laboratory-scaled modified slow pyrolysis reactor and products collected and characterised. The major product obtained was bio-char for both wastes with 12.3% and 27.8% viscous bio-oil recovered from the pyrolytic condensates of rice straw and Siam weed respectively. The resulting bio-oil is less acidic compared to most known pyrolytic oils. Separation of condensates reduced acidity and retarded ageing of bio-oils. The most abundant compound found in Siam weed viscous bio-oil from GC-MS analysis was phenol (16.93%) while it was pentadecyl-2-propyl ester sulphurous acid (30.37%) in rice straw. Bio-chars from these residues showed a higher heating value of ∼21 MJ/kg and pH values of ∼9.00.

Keywords: viscous bio-oil; bio-char; renewable energy; waste valorisation; waste management; Siam weed; rice straw; biomass; pyrolysis; phenol; sulphurous acid; energy products; chemicals.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEWM.2016.076753

International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, 2016 Vol.17 No.2, pp.91 - 102

Accepted: 31 Dec 2015
Published online: 26 May 2016 *

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