The direct and catalytic pyrolysis of rice straw

• Main Author: Razi, Ahmad
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: Universiti Malaysia Perlis 2011
• Subjects: Rice straw; Pyrolysis proses; Catalytic pyrolysis; Bio-oil; Agricultural wastes; Biomass
• Online Access: http://dspace.unimap.edu.my/xmlui/handle/123456789/12810

A study of the catalytic pyrolysis on rice straw was carried out in a fixed-bed reactor. The work objectives were to determine the influences of pyrolysis parameters i.e pyrolysis temperature, heating rate and holding time on distribution of product yield. The optimization process was analyzed by employing central composite rotatable design (CCRD) in response surface methodology (RSM). The catalysts used in this research were zeolite ZSM-5 and dolomite. The catalytic pyrolysis was carried out based on optimized condition of bio-oil yield. The characterization of pyrolysis product between non-catalytic and catalytic pyrolysis were investigated, by elemental, spectroscopic and chromatographic techniques. The char yield produced from pyrolysis process was high at low heating rates, while the gas yield produced was high at higher temperature and longer holding time. The experimental value of the optimum bio-oil yield was 27.62% as compared to the predicted value which bio-oil yield was 27.87% at pyrolysis temperature of 450 oC, heating rate of 77.63 oC/min and holding time of 2.61 min by using optimization process in the Design Expert (DOE) software. The chemical characterization studies of uncatalysed bio-oil derived from pyrolysis of rice straw contained considerable amounts of carbonyl and oxygenated compound, resulting in higher oxygen content in elemental composition and low pH value. Used of zeolites ZSM-5 and dolomite caused an increase in gas yields and a decrease in bio-oil yields. The product yields and the quality of the produced bio-oil were affected by the used of catalyst. The major improvement in the quality of liquid product with the use of catalyst was the increase of phenol concentration (useful chemicals) and the reduction of some corrosive acids which are undesirable compound in bio-oil. Dolomite catalyst having the most impacts than zeolite ZSM-5 in removing some of aldehyde and ketone compounds which are responsible for the thermal or storage stability. The influence of the zeolite ZSM-5 and dolomite catalyst used in this study caused only enhancement of liquid production in terms of quality but not the bio-oil produced.