Pyrolysis of Parinari polyandra Benth fruit shell for bio-oil production

Temitope E. Odetoye,Muhammad S. AbuBakar,Kolawole R. Onifade,James O. Titiloye

doi:10.18331/brj2015.1.3.5

Abstract

Article history: Non-conventional agricultural residues such as Parinari polyandra Benth fruit shell (PPBFS) are potential sources of biomass feedstock that have not been investigated for bio oil production. In this study, PPBFS was pyrolyzed via an intermediate pyrolysis process for the production of bio oil. The bio oils were obtained using a fixed bed reactor within a temperature range of 375-550 o C and were characterized to determine their physicochemical properties. The most abundant organic compounds present were acetic acid, toluene, 2-cyclopenten-1-one, 2-furanmethanol, phenol, guaiacol and 2,6-dimethoxyphenol. The bio- oil produced at 550 o C possessed a higher quantity of desirable compounds than those produced at lower temperatures. The presence of acetic acids in the bio-oil suggested the need to upgrade the bio-oil before utilization as a fuel source.

Highlights

There is a mounting interest in harnessing a variety of renewable resources for energy supply (IEA, 2011; Akia et al, 2014)
We report for the first time the pyrolysis of Parinari polyandra Benth fruit shells in a fixed bed reactor and investigate its suitability as a new feedstock for bio-oil production via intermediate pyrolysis
Bio-oil has been successfully produced from Parinari polyandra Benth fruit shell using an intermediate pyrolysis process

Summary

Introduction

There is a mounting interest in harnessing a variety of renewable resources for energy supply (IEA, 2011; Akia et al, 2014). This is the consequence of an increasing awareness on the need to find alternative forms of energy to address the negative effects of the use of fossil fuels on the environment. Biomass which is regarded as the third world largest primary energy resource has been a research focus for production of various types of alternative fuels including bio-oil (Bradely, 2006). Recently there has been an increase in research interest on biomass conversion via pyrolysis (IEA, 2011). Pyrolysis is one of the thermochemical conversion processes involving thermal decomposition of biomass usually above 400 oC in the absence of oxygen (Czernik and Bridgwater, 2004)

Methods

Results

Conclusion