THERMOCHEMICAL CONVERSION OF SUNFLOWER HUSKS

Abstract

The article presents the results of experimental studies of the process of thermochemical conversion of sunflower husk by pyrolysis at a temperature of 550 °C and heating rate of 10 °C/min. The main physico-chemical characteristics of this plant raw material correspond to commercial fuels. Ashes are dominated by potassium (38.7%), calcium (26.9%) and iron (13.6%) oxides. Thermochemical conversion of sunflower husks produces 56.49% of pyrolysis liquid, 29.26% of carbonaceous residue and 14.25% of gas. Experimental data of pyrolysis fluid viscosity dependence on temperature in the range from –6 to +23.5 °С were obtained. As a result of GC-MS analysis mass spectra of 90 substances of organic nature were obtained, of which 20 were identified, which corresponds to 77.3% of the entire fraction. Pyrolysis fluid contains acids, alcohols, esters, ketones, amides, aldehydes, alkenes, phenols. Taking into account boiling points of the components included in the liquid fraction, it was found that it is reasonable to extract acetic acid and methyl alcohol. The acetic acid content in the pyrolysis liquid under study reaches 31.98% and the methanol content 12.05%. It should be noted that the content of propanoic acid, 2-oxo-, ethyl ester (6.20%) is high enough, but its boiling point coincides with a number of other components, so distillation of this component is inexpedient. Thus, the obtained pyrolysis liquid is a source of raw materials for obtaining at least two high added value products.