Thermodynamic Modeling and Experimental Study of Wheat Husk Pyrolysis

Abstract

Pyrolysis of agricultural waste is a promising route for waste to energy generation wheat husk is a type of agro-waste that is available in plenty in India. It can be used as feed for pyrolysis to produce different products such as coke, silica, tar and syngas. The main product of slow pyrolysis is bio-char which is rich in carbon content. Another major product of pyrolysis is pyrolysis oil which can be used directly as fuel or added to petroleum feed stock and it may also be an important source for refined chemicals. Since such liquid fuels are of greater commercial interest, some researchers in the 80’s found that the liquid yield can be increased using fast pyrolysis i.e. heating the bio renewable feed stock at a rapid rate followed by rapid condensation of vapors. Chemistry computer aided code for thermodynamic modeling was used to predict the products of husk pyrolysis in this research study. Slow pyrolysis of wheat husk has been carried out using microporous zeolite catalysts such as mordenite. Catalyst testing has been carried out at two positions in the reactor; one where it is mixed with the feed and other, by placing it in a catalyst boat to allow vapour phase contact. Bio-oil yields are lower in all cases of catalytic pyrolysis of wheat husk compared to thermal run. With wheat husk, most cases of catalytic pyrolysis produced more bio-oil than thermal run. The pyrolysis of wheat husk was carried out between 100-12000C in the pressure range of 1-15 bar catalyst testing has been carried out in the reactor where it is mixed with the feed and placed it in a catalyst