Pyrolysis of Jatropha curcas L. husk: Optimization solid, liquid and gas yield by using response surface methodology (RSM)

Abstract

This study aimed to develop an optimal condition for production of solid and liquidproducts from the pyrolysis of Jatropha curcas L. husk. Response surface methodology (RSM) based on central composite rotatable design (CCRD) was applied to optimize the combination effect of three important reaction variables, i.e. reaction temperature (°C), heating rate (°C/min) and nitrogen gas flow rate (ml/min). The reaction was performed via vertical fixed-bed reactor. A total of 20 individual experiments were conducted. The results showed that the RSM based on CCRD is well adaptable for pyrolysis studied in this system. The predicted optimum conditions for production of solid and liquid yield from the pyrolysis of Jatropha curcas L. husk was at 400°C reaction temperature, 60 °C/min heating rate and 120 ml/min nitrogen gas flow rate with char, liquid and gas yield at 38 %, 28.9 % and 33.0% respectively.