Thermocatalytic pyrolysis of agriculture waste biomass for the production of renewable fuels and chemicals

ABSTRACT

The present work highlights the thermocatalytic pyrolysis of three different waste biomasses (Groundnut Stalk, Indian Rosewood, and Rice Straw) using meso and microporous catalysts for the effective conversion to fuels and chemicals. Thermocatalytic pyrolysis was found to be highly significant under optimum conditions (Temperature = 500°C, Heating rate = 90°C/min, Biomass particle size = 0.4 mm, and Sweeping gas flow rate = 100 mL/min). All the synthesized catalysts (KIT-6, NbKIT-6, and ZIF-8) were found to be highly efficient, and the maximum liquid yield was observed at 20 wt% of catalyst loading, i.e. 49.35% (KIT-6); 56.57% (NbKIT-6); and 52.74% (ZIF-8), respectively. The results revealed that compared to KIT-6, the maximum liquid yield was observed with NbKIT-6 catalyst i.e. 56.57% (Groundnut Stalk); 58.45% (Indian Rosewood); and 57.57% (Rice Straw), respectively. The proposed strategy will be highly economical and sustainable and the selected biomass could be a promising alternative and renewable energy source.

KEYWORDS:

• Agricultural waste biomass
• catalytic pyrolysis
• mesoporous and microporous catalysts
• pyrolytic products

Acknowledgements

The authors sincerely thank the University School of Chemical Technology for providing lab facilities and the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, for sample characterizations.

Disclosure statement

The authors are unaware of any competing financial interests that would have affected the work described in this paper.

Credit author statement

Uplabdhi Tyagi Experimental work, Data Interpretation, Manuscript Writing.

Neeru Anand Principal investigator and Conceptualization.

Arinjay Jain Editing and Interpretation of data.

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/15567036.2023.2247359.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Uplabdhi Tyagi

Dr. Uplabdhi Tyagi is currently working as Assistant Professor in the University School of Chemical Technology, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, New Delhi, India. She has published more than 17 International peer reviewed research papers in Elsevier and Springer Journals having high impact factor (more than 11) and edited 12 books. Her research focuses on the applications of lignocellulosic waste biomass in Pharmaceuticals, Food, Cosmetics and Bio-processing Industries. Her research area interest includes Biomass Engineering, Waste and Disposal management, Adsorption, Catalysis and Process Modelling.

Neeru Anand

Prof. Neeru Anand is currently working as Professor in the University School of Chemical Technology, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, New Delhi, India. Her research areas include process safety, catalytic cracking, pyrolysis, Biomass Engineering, Biofuels and Bio-based products and has experience of Industrial Safety as applicable to hazardous process industries. She has participated in numerous Quantitative Risk Analysis Studies, Safety Audits and HAZOP studies. She has also participated in sponsored project by World Bank is “Feasibility studies for industrial pocket wise Risk Assessment”, Industrial Safety and Disaster Prevention project for MoE&F (1997-1999). This Project was done while working in M/S KLG TNO Safety Technology Ltd. in association with TNO, The Netherland. After joining GGS Indraprastha University she has supervised a number of PhDs, B.Tech and M.Tech projects.

Arinjay Jain

Prof. Arinjay Jain is currently working as Professor in the University School of Chemical Technology, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, New Delhi, India. He has more than 25 years of Teaching /Research experience. His research areas include Bioprocess engineering, Industrial Pollution and Abatement, Adsorption, Waste Management and Sustainable manufacturing. He has published more than 35 International peer reviewed research papers in Elsevier and Springer, Wiley Journals and contributed to several edited books. He has guided/supervised several PhDs and presented number of research papers in national/international conferences within and outside India.