Conference article

The objective of this work was to study bio-oil production from sugar cane trash by a pyrolysis process in fluidized bed reactor. The experiments were carried out at different temperatures ranging from 460 – 540 oC and at different medium gas flow rates between 120 -160 cc.s-1. Two different gases; Nitrogen (N2) and air; were used as the fluidizing medium in order to study the effect of a different medium on the yield and properties of the bio-oil. The experimental result showed that the maximum bio-oil yields of 46.2 wt% and 31.95 wt% were obtained at 500 oC and 160 cc.s-1 for air and Nitrogen medium; respectively. The bio-oil yield obtained when using air as a medium was higher than that when using Nitrogen medium. This was a result of the higher quantity of water content in the air. The properties of bio-oil were determined and the result showed that its heating value; dynamic viscosity; density; water content; and pH were 15.48 MJ.kg-1; 2.31 cSt 1;019 kg.m-3; 52 wt% and 3; respectively. By dehydration of the obtained bio-oil; the heating value; viscosity and density were increased to 19.81 MJ.kg-1; 57.66 cSt and 1;260 kg.m-3; respectively. These results show that the bio-oil can be used as a fuel oil for combustion in a boiler or a furnace without any modification. Furthermore; the energy consumption of the pyrolysis process was analyzed.

Sugar cane trash; Bio-oil; Pyrolysis; Fluidized bed reactor