Pyrolysis of Phoenix Dactylifera and Phyllanthus Emblica seeds to produce biofuel

Abstract

Renewable biomass has proved to be an important source of energy all over the world while if an agriculture-backed economy, like India, is considered, the future awaits the prospects of successfully converting waste biomass materials which are easily available, into different types of fuel. In the present study, proximate analysis, thermogravimetric analysis and pyrolysis of Phoenix Dactylifera and Phyllanthus Emblica seeds were investigated to find out the physical and reactive properties of the selected feed materials. It would also ascertain their ability to be available as a commercially viable fuel. Thermal pyrolysis of Phoenix Dactylifera and Phyllanthus Emblica seeds was performed in a 450–650 °C temperature gradient using a batch reactor keeping the rate of heating at 20 °C/min. Proximate and thermogravimetric analyses of both raw materials confirmed the presence of minimal moisture and high content of volatile matter in both biomass feedstock, prerequisites for the selection of feed to produce biofuel. The pyrolysis of Phoenix Dactylifera and Phyllanthus Emblica seeds showed promising results in terms of bio-oil yield at 45 wt% and 76.4 wt% respectively at an optimum temperature of 650 °C and 600 °C. Thus it was confirmed that both the waste seeds can certainly be utilized to produce renewable liquid fuel.