Optimization studies on catalytic pyrolysis of empty fruit bunch (EFB) using L9 Taguchi Orthogonal Array
2016
Nur Suriawanie Muda | Suzana Yusup | Haswin Kaur Gurdeep Singh | Kirenraj Doraiselvan | Cheah, Kin Wai
In this investigation, catalytic pyrolysis of empty fruit bunch (EFB) was studied and optimized in terms of bio-oil and char yields by using Taguchi L9 Orthogonal Array method. The effects of pyrolysis temperatures, catalyst loadings and particle sizes on the product yields were investigated and discussed in this paper. The catalytic pyrolysis is performed in a semi-batch reactor which is externally heated by an electrical vertical split tube furnace. Under the nitrogen flow rates of 60 ml/min, 80 ml/min and 100ml/min, 15g of EFB biomass with the particle sizes of 100 µm, 250 µm, 500 µm were thermally decomposed at three pyrolysis temperatures of 573K, 673K and 773K, along with Zeolite HZSM-5 catalyst loadings of 1 wt%,5 wt% and 12 wt%. From the product analysis, a maximum liquid bio-oil yield of 64.4 wt% were obtained at catalyst loading of 1.5 wt.%, reaction temperature of 773K, nitrogen flow rate of 100 mL/min, and particle size of 250 µm. Meanwhile, at catalyst loading of 3.25 wt.%, reaction temperature of 773K,, nitrogen flow rate of 60 mL/min and particle size of 250 µm, the bio char yield formed was as low as 18.6 wt.% which could be mainly attributed to secondary cracking of char residue. The predicted maximum liquid yield and minimum bio char yield is validated with an experimental run at the corresponding predicted conditions.
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