Quantitative Investigation on Pyrolytic Behaviors of Agricultural Residues from Rice Husk and Various Performances of Their Relevant Ash Residues

Abstract

In this study, the thermal process behavior of rice husk as a sustainable feedstock for bio-syngas production and the physicochemical properties of rice husk ash generated from thermal process as possible precursors for utilizations were intensively investigated. A preliminary analysis of the influences of heating rate on kinetics and on the formation of bio-syngas was also performed. The thermogravimetric results of rice husk indicate that its decomposition occurs in four stages, and the main weight loss occurs within 210–400°C. The emission intensities of CO, CO2, CH4, and H2 at 20°C/min are much higher than those of 5°C/min, indicating that pyrolysis at higher heating rates is more suitable for bio-syngas production. Chemical and phase analysis exhibits the presence of cristobalite, quartz, and tridymite as the major crystal phases of SiO2, which reveals the potential of rice husk ash as an alternative for silicon compounds. The porous structure analysis indicates that carbon residues developed from rice husk ash are good candidates for activated carbon production. Through analyzing its thermal properties, the internal reactions occurring within ash particles are predicted accurately, which is helpful to better understand the transformation and fusion mechanism of inorganic components in the complex-composition ash.