Microwave pyrolysis of wood wastes for conversion to fuel material

• Main Author: Siti Nur Akmar, Binti Mohd Yazid
• Format: Final Year Project Report
• Language: English
• Published: Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) 2010
• Subjects: Q Science (General); QD Chemistry
• Online Access: http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/26512/2/Siti%20Nur%20Akmar.pdf; http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/26512/
• Institution: Universiti Malaysia Sarawak

In this study, pyrolytic char and oil were prepared from wood waste by pyrolyzing the sample in a 1000W modified household microwave oven at laboratory scale at 3, 5, 7 and 10 minutes. Pyrolysis tt:mperature was measured by infra red thennometer and resulting pyroiytic oil and char were characterized by proximate, ultimate analyses, calorific value, and physical properties analyses. It was found that the pyrolysis temperature ranged from 240-269 °C depending on the pyrolysis treatment times of wood waste. Generally, the yields of char decreased while the yield of oil increased as microwave pyrolysis was prolonged. The calorific value of pyrolysis char and oil were found between 24.36-26.00 MJ/kg and 23.51-25.32MJ/kg respectively, suggesting that the pyrolytic char and oil are potential renewable energy source. Esterification study on the pyrolytic oil revealed that the pH, density, odour, colour and calorific value of the oil could be significantly improved through esterification process.