An evaluation of thermal characteristics of bacterium Actinobacillus succinogenes for energy use and circular bioeconomy

• Main Authors: Lin, Bo-Jhih, Chen, Wei-Hsin, Lin, Yu-Ying, Chang, Jo-Shu, Farooq, Abid, Singh, Yashvir, Ong, Hwai Chyuan, Show, Pau Loke
• Format: Article
• Published: Elsevier 2020
• Subjects: T Technology (General); TJ Mechanical engineering and machinery
• Online Access: http://eprints.um.edu.my/36792/
• Institution: Universiti Malaya

The thermal characteristics of Actinobacillus succinogenes (AS) from pyrolysis, torrefaction, and combustion are analyzed to evaluate the potential of this biomass as a renewable fuel. AS pyrolysis can be classified into four stages, and its main decomposition zone is at 200-500 degrees C. The solid yield of AS after 60 min torrefaction is over 60 wt%, and the torrefaction severity index map indicates that a high torrefaction temperature with a short duration has a more profound influence on its decomposition. The Py-GC/MS analysis of AS suggests that the volatile products from 500 degrees C pyrolysis are similar to microalgae-derived pyrolysis bio-oils. The combustibility index (S) of AS is 4.07 x 10(-7) which is much higher than that of lignite coal (0.39 x 10(-7)) and bituminous coal (0.18 x 10(-7)), and close to those of biochar and bio-oil. The obtained results are conducive to the development of microorganisms as fuel to achieve a circular bioeconomy.