Thermogravimetric analysis of rice husk and coconut pulp for potential biofuel production by flash pyrolysis

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 dp2a 0.02 mg/s changes was recorded.