Slow pyrolysis of coconut wood (Cocos nucifera L.) and bio-char compositions

Abstract

Biomass in the form of coconut wood (Cocos nucifera L.) was pyrolysed in an externally heated batch reactor. In order to determine the lignin, cellulose and hemicellulose content was used a Van Soest method as reference method. The effects of final temperature and heating rate on the yields and compositions of the bio-char were investigated. Pyrolysis runs were performed using reactor temperatures were 375 °C, 475 °C and 575 °C with heating rates of 5 min−1, 10 min−1 and 20 min−1. The bio-char yields were significantly influenced by the process conditions. The result showed that the bio-char mass decreased with increasing the final temperature, but increased with the increase of heating rate. The activation energy increases with increasing final temperature and heating rate. While the highest activation energy was 38.89 kJ mol−1 and the obtained on bio-char product amounted to 6858.84 cal/g at the final temperature 575 °C and heating rate 5 min−1. It was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. This study showed that FTIR spectra have the potential to be an important source of information for a quick evaluation of the chemical composition of coconut wood (Cocos nucifera L.).