Characterization of pyrolytic bio-oil from water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) pyrolysis in a fixed bed reactor

Abstract

Bio-oil was produced from the pyrolysis of water hyacinth in a fixed bed reactor at a final reactor temperature, particle size and nitrogen flow rate of 450 °C, 0.6 mm and 100 cm³/min respectively and characterized. GC-MC analysis of the bio-oil detected 21 compounds. The FTIR spectrum of the bio-oil indicated that phenols, alcohols, carboxylic acids, ketones, quinines, alkenes, alkanes, aldehydes and aromatics were the major compounds in the bio-oil. Also, the fuel properties such as pH, water content, flash point, density, viscosity, pour point were determined as 2.93, 58.58%, 220 °C, 1004.3 kg/m³,19.8 cSt, +15 °C respectively. The higher heating value of the bio-oil was found to be 28.35 MJ/kg; which is 63.02% higher than the original feedstock. There is no sulfur in the bio-oil and nitrogen content insignificant; an indication that environmentally friendly fuels and chemicals could be obtained by refining water hyacinth pyrolytic bio-oil.

Keywords:

• Water hyacinth
• bio-oil
• characterization
• pyrolysis
• fixed bed reactor