FUEL CHARACTERIZATION OF BIO-OIL FROM FAST PYROLYSIS OF Tectona grandis IN A FIXED BED REACTOR AT DIFFERENT TEMPERATURES (400-700°C)
Pious O. Okekunle, Akinola D. Ogunshola, Oluwapelumi A. Babayemi, Emmanuel D. Abodunrin, Olanrewaju M. Daramola
Abstract
This study analyzed the fuel properties of the bio-oil obtained from pyrolysis of Tectona grandis at different temperatures (400, 500, 600, and 700°C) in a fixed bed reactor. The feedstock was characterized using proximate and ultimate analyses. The elemental composition of the bio-oils as well as their fuel properties, including the pH value, density, viscosity, higher heating value (HHV), moisture and ash content, flash point, pour point, and carbon residue, were determined. The percentage ranges of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, sulfur, and oxygen in the bio-oils were 75.80-76.50, 8.93-8.98, 4.24-4.46, 0.11-0.21, and 10.50-10.88 wt.%, respectively. The pH values of the derived bio-oils (2.7-3.3) were lower than those of diesel (5.5-8.0) while their densities at 40°C (1.10-1.15 g/cm3) were comparable to those of fuel oil (0.9101 g/cm3), furnace oil (0.92 g/cm3), and heavy fuel oil (0.9888 g/cm3), measured at 30°C, with their viscosities (29-34 mPa·s) higher than those of gasoline (< 0.3 mPa·s) and diesel (3-4 mPa·s). The HHVs of the bio-oils (36.47-36.76 MJ/kg) were lower than those of gasoline (44-46 MJ/kg) and diesel (42-46 MJ/kg). The flash points of the bio-oils at 500, 600, and 700°C (50, 55, and 48°C, respectively) were lower than that of diesel (58.5°C). With some upgrading, bio-oil from Tectona grandis pyrolysis can be a substitute for conventional liquid fuels.