Characterization of hydrocarbonaceous liquid and solid products derived from thermal defragmentation of Cissus quadrangularis Linn in a fixed bed pyrolysis

ABSTRACT

Utilization of Cissus quadrangularis Linn (CQ) for producing hydrocarbonaceous bio-oil and biochar in a fixed bed pyrolysis at 550°C was studied. Rapid and progressive thermal decompositions took place between 220 and 550°C. Elemental composition of the biomass shows 12.32% moisture and 67.97% volatiles. Spectroscopic and chromatographic analysis of bio-oil having a calorific value of 26.58 MJ/kg elucidates 15 different chemicals of different functional groups. Two major chemicals (ethanol, pentamethyl, and benzedrex) dominate at around 60% of the chemicals identified in the bio-oil. Biochar could be a possible source of activated carbon for suntan lotion producing industries.

KEYWORDS:

• Biomass
• characterization
• Cissus quadrangularis
• FTIR
• GC-MS
• pyrolysis
• TGA-DSC

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful for the support of instrumental facility provided by Sophisticated Instrumentation Facility, VIT University, Vellore; and Centre for Energy and Environment for Science and Technology, NIT Trichy, and Central Instrumentation Facility, Pondicherry Central University, Puducherry.

Funding

The authors are grateful for the financial support provided by The Chairman, SKP Engineering College, Tiruvannamalai.

Additional information

Funding

The authors are grateful for the financial support provided by The Chairman, SKP Engineering College, Tiruvannamalai.