Analysis on chemical and physical properties of bio-oil pyrolyzed from rice husk

Fast pyrolysis of rice husk was performed with an intermediate autothermal pyrolysis set to produce bio-oil. The bio-oil was analyzed for its elemental and chemical composition, basic fuel properties, distillation and thermogravimetric properties, ageing properties as well as lubrication properties. The effects of methanol addition on some properties of the bio-oil were also investigated. The results indicate that the rice husk bio-oil is a valuable liquid fuel but with some undesired properties. The addition of methanol is beneficial. It reduces the viscosity of the bio-oil remarkably and also slows down the ageing rates of the bio-oil. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.