STRAIGHT PYROLYSIS OF COCONUT HUSK IN A ROTATING CYLINDER REACTOR AND PRODUCT CHARACTERIZATION

Abstract

The objective of this work is to produce and characterize bio-oil, char, and gases obtained from the pyrolysis of coconut husk using a laboratory reactor. In the experiments, the reactor rotated at 33.7 rpm, the reaction time was usually 30 min, and the biomass flow rate was 540 g h-1. A mass balance showed that the maximum yields of the phases were: bio-oil (18.1%), char (21.7%), gas (37.6%), obtained at 500 °C and 100 cm3 min-1 of the nitrogen carrier gas. The bio-oil was characterized for density, viscosity at 40 °C, pH, higher heating value, solid contents, and composition. The char was characterized for the contents of ash, moisture, volatiles, fixed carbon, higher heating value, elemental analysis, and FTIR. The gases were analyzed by chromatography and consisted mostly of CO2 (39.45%), CO (30.64%), and H2 (24.07 v/v%).