Effect of composting on products of slow pyrolysis

Abstract

Composting can be used to break down the complex biomass components which can influence slow pyrolysis products. In this work, the effect of composting on slow pyrolysis products of rice husk and wheat husk at different temperatures is investigated. It was found that in rice husk, composting yielded a 2.63–16.33% increase in char yield. In wheat husk, a 9.41–19.68% increase in char yield was observed. In the case of bio-oil yield, a 1.70–21.67% increase in rice husk and a 1.55–5.14% increase in wheat husk was noticed. However, with regard to gas yield, composting yielded a 47.22–52.24% decrease in rice husk and a 8.86–33.62% decrease in wheat husk.

Keywords:

• slow pyrolysis
• rice husk
• wheat husk
• composting
• lignin

Acknowledgements

We express our gratitude to the Department of Science and Technology, New Delhi, India, for financially supporting this work.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Prakash Parthasarathy

Prakash Parthasarathy received his BTech (Chemical Engineering) degree from Shanmugha College of Engineering and Technology, Thanjavur, Tamilnadu, India. His MTech (Energy Engineering) degree is from the National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli, Tamilnadu, India. He did his PhD (Chemical Engineering) at the National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli, Tamilnadu, India. His research work is on hydrogen generation from biomass through thermochemical methods of energy conversion. His research interest includes: pyrolysis and gasification of biomass, hydrogen generation from biomass, solar energy etc. He has experience working in pharmaceutical company, cement industry, energy conservation consultancy and in academics.

Naveen Kumar Gupta

Naveen Kumar Gupta secured his BE (Mechanical Engineering) from Gandhi Institute for Education and Technology, Baniatangi, Orissa India. His MTech (Energy Engineering) degree is from National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli, Tamilnadu, India. Currently he is working as an Assistant Professor in Brainware Group of Institutions, Kolkatta, West Bengal, India. His research keenness is in hydrogen generation from biomass, bio-energy, simulation studies etc.

K. Sheeba Narayanan

Dr. K.N. Sheeba obtained her BTech degree in Chemical Engineering from Dr. MGR University, Chennai, Tamilnadu, India. She secured her MTech in Energy Engineering from National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli, Tamilnadu, India. She did her Doctorate in the Department of Chemical Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli, Tamilnadu, India. Her research interest entails solar energy, power production from bio-energy, hydrodynamics and simulation studies. Her academics interests include energy engineering, chemical engineering thermodynamics, environmental engineering and fuels & combustion technology. She is a life member in Solar Energy Society of India, National Society of Fluid Mechanics and Fluid Power, Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers and Institution of Engineers. She has been awarded ‘Young Scientist’ by Department of Science and Technology, India.