(195f) Oxidative Fast Pyrolysis of Groundnut Shell (GNS) in the Catalytic and Non-Catalytic Mode for Biofuel Production

A fluidized bed fast pyrolysis system (8 kg/hr) was designed and developed at Sardar Patel Renewable Energy Research Institute (SPRERI). Groundnut shell (GNS) is selected as a biomass feedstock and Fe₂O₃, CaO, MgO and TiO₂ are selected as a catalyst for the fast pyrolysis experiment. The parameters for the trials were determined at 8 kg/hr feeding rate at the temperature range of 550-650 °C with an equivalence ratio of 0.1-0.2. The bio-oil yield with the existing parameter was observed at ~ 37 wt. % in non-catalytic mode. In catalytic mode, the bio-oil yield was observed at 31.34 wt. % with Fe₂O₃, 29.90 wt. % with CaO, ~27.23 wt. % with MgO and 28.30 wt. % with TiO₂. The organic phase in the bio-oil in catalytic mode is improved by 5-7 wt. %. The physical properties such as pH, solid content and calorific value of the bio-oil were evaluated. The pH of the bio-oil in the non-catalytic mode (4.05) is lower than in the catalytic mode (4.86 - 5.75) with all the catalysts, which indicates the catalytic bio-oil is less acidic than the non-catalytic bio-oil. The solid content in the bio-oil with the catalyst (3.98 – 4.13 wt. %) is less than the non-catalytic (5.57 wt. %) mode. The calorific value of the bio-oil was observed higher in catalytic mode (29.95 - 31.41 MJ/kg) in comparison to non-catalytic (29.89 MJ/kg) mode. The ¹H NMR analysis of bio-oil from sawdust and GNS reveals the presence of alkyl (methyl and methylene), alkenyl, aryl, allylic, alcoholic, and phenolic protons. The FTIR spectrum shows that different classes of organic compounds such as phenols, aliphatic alcohols, alkanes, alkenes, aromatics, ketones, aldehydes, nitrogen-containing compounds, carboxylic acids and halides are present in bio-oil.