Physicochemical Performance of Wood Chips Char and Wheat Husk Char for Utilisation as an Alternate Source of Energy

Abstract

This paper explores the characteristics of biomass waste (wood chips and wheat husk) experimentally. Wood has been the primary and cheap fuel for cooking in many households of different countries because it is easily accessible whereas wheat husk is also produced parallely in huge amount but its handling and proper utilisation also needs to be considered and energy generation. This study aims at providing an alternative to wood chips and wheat husk converted to be biochar for more energy generation. This biomass waste remains unutilised and consumes a lot of effort on its disposal; causes environmental problems such as air pollution from partially combust suspended particles and unwanted addition of gases and heat to the atmosphere along with health hazard. This study takes an attempt to reduce the requirements of fossils fuels reserves using biochar. On the basis of Gross Calorific Value (GCV) and percentage of Carbon, biochar is compared with coal. The biochar derived from biomass were analysed by proximate analysis, ultimate analysis, Heating Value, pH, BET surface area, yield percentage, functional group analysis through FT-IR and microscopic analysis by FE-SEM. The outcomes indicate a quantitative change in the volatile matter, carbon percentage, BET surface area, pH and their functional groups with increase in pyrolysis temperature. The moisture content and yield percentage decrease with increase in temperature.