Umudike Journal of Engineering and Technology

Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike


OPTIMIZATION OF BIOFUEL PRODUCTION FROM PYROLYSIS OF TERMINALIA CATAPPA PELLETS IN A FIXED BED REACTOR

Oladosu, K. O.
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kwara State University, Malete, P.M.B 1530 Ilorin, Nigeria;Center for Sustainable Energy, Kwara State University, Malete, P.M.B 1530, Ilorin, Nigeria.

Adetunji, A. S.
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, P.M.B 4000, Ogbomoso, Oyo state, Nigeria.

Chukwwuweike, S. U.
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kwara State University, Malete, P.M.B 1530 Ilorin, Nigeria.

Oderinde, J. O.
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kwara State University, Malete, P.M.B 1530 Ilorin, Nigeria.



ABSTRACT

Pyrolysis stands out as an effective thermochemical pathway for transforming biomass to biofuels. This study focused on the optimization of bio oil and bio char production through pyrolysis of Terminalia Catappa Pellets (TCP) using a fixed bed reactor. Box-Behnken Design (BBD) under Response Surface Methodology of Design Expert software version 13.0 was employed for the modelling and optimization of bio char and bio-oil yield at a specified range of temperature (450 – 600 oC), holding time of (15 – 60 mins) and particle size (0.5 – 2.0 mm) within an inert atmosphere fixed bed reactor. The chemical properties of bio-oil were investigated using GC-MS. The maximum bio-oil yield (52.50 %) and bio char (22.80 %) were observed at a temperature of 525oC, holding time (15 mins) and 1.25 mm particle size. The GC-MS showed that bio oil contained acetic acid, I-hydroxyl-2-proanone, and acetic acid-methylester with the highest peak areas of oxygenated compounds. Further processing of these chemicals could make it suitable for industrial applications. The mathematical models for the bio-oil and bio-char through pyrolysis using the BBD indicated a strong fit with coefficient of determination (R2) values of 0.97 and 0.98 respectively. The prediction accuracy suggests that BBD can be applied for prediction of biofuel through pyrolysis of biomass pellets.


Keywords: Pyrolysis; Bio-oil; Terminalia Catappa Pellets; Fixed bed reactor; Box-Behnken Design.


https://doi.org/10.33922/j.ujet_v9i2_8
View: 62 | Download: 11

Published
Monday, November 06, 2023

Issue
Vol.9 No.2, December 2023

Article Section
GENERAL

The contents of the articles are the sole opinion of the author(s) and not of UJET.


Open Access
Umudike Journal of Engineering and Technology makes abstracts and full texts of all articles published freely available to everyone immediately after publication thereby enabling the accessibility of research articles by the global community without hindrance through the internet.

Indexing and Abstracting
We are index in Google Scholar, AJOL, and EBSCO.