Abstract
A new empirical formula, based on the porosity, the botanical composition and the ash content of the precursor, is proposed for the assessment of the char yield, Y (wt%), of lignocellulosic materials pyrolyzed in a 600°C–900°C temperature range. The following equation is proposed:
Y (wt%) = (0.8815 − 2.281/ϵ + 61.44/ϵ2)
· {[L(0.59 − 2.74 × 10−4 (t°C − 600) + 0.22C]
+ A − 0.1 E [1 + 2 × 10−3 (600 − t°C)]}
where ϵ, L, C, A, and E are parameters of the precursor, namely: porosity (%) and percentage (wt%) of lignin, cellulose, ash, and extractives, the t temperature, being in the Celsius grade.
The values calculated by the formula fit satisfactorily with the experimental results, the gap being less than 0.5%.
Acknowledgements
The work described here was supported by the CPER-DOCUP 2000-2006 of Région Guadeloupe-Project no. 23003. The authors are grateful to Mrs. Josely Lacroix for helping them, with improving the English language in this article.