Abstract

Karanja is a medium sized evergreen tree which has minor economic importance in India. The nonedible seed kernel contains 27–30% oil that is used for biodiesel production, leaving the remaining nonedible seed cake as a waste product. The aim of the present work was to obtain kinetic parameters in relation to technological parameters in nonedible seed cake biomass pyrolysis conversion process to bio-oil and biochar. Effects of heating rate on karanja seed cake slow pyrolysis behavior and kinetic parameters were investigated at heating rates of 5, 10, and 20°C/min using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Thermogravimetric experiments showed the onset and offset temperatures of the devolatilization step shifted toward the high-temperature range, and the activation energy values increased with increasing heating rate. In the present study, isoconversional method was applied for the pyrolysis of karanja seed cake biomass by TGA and the activation energies (118–124 kJ/mol) and the pre-exponential factors obtained using progressive conversion. Proximate–ultimate analyses, energy value, surface structure, and Fourier transform infrared spectra of the biomass processed under conditions were reported. The pyrolysis resulted in upgradation of the energy value of seed cake biomass from 18.1 to 24.5 MJ/kg, importantly with high carbon and low oxygen contents. The approach represents a novel method for the upgrading of karanja seed cake that has significant commercial potential.

Abstract

Biochar (BC), a by-product from the fast pyrolysis of rice husk, was activated by chemical and physical process. The activated biochar (ABC) showed graphite-like morphology and had a large amount of random pores with BET surface area of 1058 m2/g. The biochar properties observed by further characterization revealed its feasibility to be used as a catalyst support. Syngas methanation as a probe reaction was utilized to characterize biochar supported Ru catalyst. The catalytic performance of the Ru/ABC catalyst in methanation was superior or comparable to the conventional activated carbon (AC) supported Ru catalyst. A high CH4 selectivity of 98% and a CO conversion of 100% were obtained under the proper reaction conditions over the Ru/ABC catalyst.