Impact of Renewable Technology on Palm Fruit Fibre: Strategy for Climate Change and Adaptation

T. B. Onifade

doi:10.7176/isde/10-3-02

Abstract

This study aims to explore low temperature and pressure to extract the lignocellulosic content of palm fruit fibre and pyrolyse it for energy (bio-oil) and chemical feedstock productions as alternative technology to improper disposal causing environmental pollution as strategies for climate change and adaptation.Burning of refuse and agricultural residue releases harmful gases or carbon emission to the climate which cause global warming. Renewable technology can therefore be introduced to utilize agricultural residues to produce energy and chemical feedstock. Vacuum pyrolysis of the lignocellulosic material prepared from palm fruit fibre was performed by considering pyrolysis temperature of 200, 250, 300, 350 and 400 ℃ and biomass particle size of 0.25, 0.30, 0.42 and 0.55 mm. The bio-oil produced at different process parameters was then characterized by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and ultimate analysis. The response was efficiently used for modeling and optimization of the process parameters. The results showed that experimented and predicted data are in reasonable agreement with the values of coefficient of determination, R 2 (0.8098) and Adj. R 2 (0.700). It was found that the optimal conditions for pyrolytic product were temperature 300℃, biomass particle size 0.55 mm and retention time between 14 and 18 min. Temperature and particle size had effect on the yielded gaseous products, liquid and char materials. And various chemical compounds were produced at different process parameters. The contribution of renewable technology framework is a process of educating for climate stewardship, at this stage of practical and theoretical. It is good approach of converting residues to useful products as one of the ways of solving climate change problem with the relevant stakeholders that its true potential can be assessed. Educating the public for climate stewardship will be more effective if it adopts anapproach which seeks a co-production of knowledge. Clean environment with less global warming will be attained. This agricultural residue can be recommended for bio-fuel, bio-gas and used as chemical feedstock for industrial purpose. The char can also be used to increase soil organic components. These benefits can therefore be used for policy making on residue disposal and as strategy for climate change and adaptation or mitigation in Nigeria and other African countries. Keywords: Palm fruit fibre. Pyrolysis.Renewableenergy.Lignocellulose.Climate change DOI : 10.7176/ISDE/10-3-02 Publication date :March 31 st 2019

Highlights

Climate Change and Energy The world’s climate and weather conditions are changing
The diameter of the particle size of palm fruit fibre used ranged from 0.250 to 0.550 mm in form of 0.250, 300, 0.425 and 0.550 mm.Each sample was mixed with Sodium Anhydrous in order to make it dried and remove totally the moisture in it
The pyrolysis of palm fruit fibre had been examined;experimental factors had significant effect on the bio-oil and chemical compounds yielded from the residues

Summary

Introduction

Climate Change and Energy The world’s climate and weather conditions are changing. Global temperatures are rising and causing more extreme weather disasters, like flooding and heat waves (UKEA, 2015). ‘Adaptation’ means changing the way of doing things to prepare for the potential impacts of climate change This implies that human will be better protected against consequences like flooding and other weather events (UKEA, 2015). Weather variability and the effect on society varies across the country, the effect of climate change on our economy, infrastructure, society and environment vary from place to place These help to make strategic plans for and adapt to climate changes (UKEA, 2015). FAO (2001) reported that a long-term change in weather had occurred in the semiarid and sub-humid zones of West Africa It appears that little or nothing can be done to improve variability in weather since most of its causes are natural

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion