An experimental study on pyrolysis of biomass

In this study, pyrolysis of sugarcane bagasse was performed in fixed bed tubular reactor under the conditions of nitrogen atmosphere, by varying temperature and different particle sizes. The effect of final pyrolysis temperature from 400 to 500 degrees C and the nitrogen flow rate from 50 to 200 cc min(-1) on the pyrolysis product yields from sugarcane bagasse have been investigated. The Maximum bio-oil yield obtained is 24.12 wt% at the final pyrolysis temperature of 450 degrees C, N-2 flow rate of 50 cc min(-1) and particle size of mesh number - 8 + 12. The yield of biooil decreases with increase in temperature from 450 to 550 degrees C and N-2 flow rate from 50 to 200 cc min(-1). The various characteristics of pyrolysis oil obtained under these conditions were identified on the basis of standard test methods. The empirical formula of pyrolysis oil with a heating value of 37.01 MJ Kg(-1) was established as CH1.434 O-0.555 N-0.004. The results from the pyrolysis show the potential of sugarcane bagasse as an important source of liquid hydrocarbon fuel.