Production of Biocrude and Charcoal from Fast Oxidative Pyrolysis of Cassava Pulp Residue Using a Fluidized Bed Reactor
Author(s):
MT Cabaraban*, G Divinagracia, JC Padernal, VM Ramirez, L Arranguez, JM Semilla, DJM Ombiga, EJ Barcelona and K Paderanga
Cassava pulp (Manihot esculenta Crantz) residue (CPR) is the solid waste generated from the cassava processing industry. In the bench-scale experiments, fast oxidative pyrolysis of CPR was carried out in a fluidized bed reactor, using uncondensed recycled pyrolysis gas as carrier medium to produce charcoal and biocrude. The influence of three gas recycle rates, ranging from 0.60 to 2.3 Sm3 h –1 , on the product yields and characteristics was investigated. Results suggest that an increase in the recycle rate will lead to an increase in biocrude yield and a decrease in the charcoal yield. The product yields of biocrude and charcoal were 15.68 ± 2.08 percent and 24.29 ± 3.31 percent, respectively. The biocrude product was mainly composed of alcohols, phenols, aldehydes, ketones, alkanes, and alkynes. The charcoal obtained has a heating value that is around 85 percent higher than that of the CPR feedstock. It has a high fixed carbon content of around 67 percent, but a low volatile matter content of only around 28 percent. At the pyrolysis temperature of around 500 °C, the uncondensed pyrolysis gas compounds consisted primarily of N2 and C2 H6 , with small amounts of H2 , and higher hydrocarbon compounds. Results suggest the potential for generating biofuel products from the fast oxidative pyrolysis of CPR.
