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Designing, Developing and Testing of a Pyrolysis System: A Case Study of Biochar and Pyroligneous Acid

Received: 2 December 2022     Accepted: 23 December 2022     Published: 9 January 2023
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Abstract

Pyrolysis being an efficient process through which biomass materials are converted to biochar and pyroligneous acid can be easily achieved by using an efficient pyrolysis system. These pyrolysis products can be used as source of energy for cooking, soil amendment or as biopesticide/biofertilizer. The aim of this study was to design, develop and test a pyrolysis system in production of biochar and pyroligneous acid from forest wastes (twigs of acacia, eucalyptus, and black wattle). Testing of the developed pyrolysis system was based on the production and quality of biochar and pyroligneous acid. The biochar quality was based on its moisture content (MC), volatile matter (VM), ash content (AC), fixed carbon (FC) and pH while for pyroligneous acid, this was based on the pH and density (ρ). The pyrolysis system designed and developed had a carbonization kiln (diameter = 0.5 m and height = 1 m) and pyrolysis smoke condensation system (surface area = 1.16 m2, radius = 0.16 m, 2 number of coiling tubes, height = 1 m, outer chimney/pipe diameter = 0.18 m). The developed pyrolysis system resulted into an average biochar production of 37.31% and 24.90% of pyroligneous acid. The biochar produced had an average MC = 9.1%, VM = 28.8%, AC = 6.9%, FC = 55.2% and pH = 6.7 while the pyroligneous acid had an average ρ = 1.02 gcm-3 and pH = 3.08. This approach of carbonizing agroforestry materials using the developed pyrolysis system enhances diversification of products by capturing what would otherwise be wasted to produce biofuel, bio-fertilizer, and bio-pesticide. This would result in environmental conservation and serve as source of livelihood when these products are marketed.

Published in Journal of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering (Volume 8, Issue 1)
DOI 10.11648/j.jeece.20230801.11
Page(s) 1-9
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2023. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Pyrolysis, Carbonization Kiln, Pyrolysis Smoke Condensation System, Biochar, Pyroligneous Acid, Environmental Conservation

References
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    Baqe Sharu Doti, Daudi Nyaanga, Samwel Nyakach. (2023). Designing, Developing and Testing of a Pyrolysis System: A Case Study of Biochar and Pyroligneous Acid. Journal of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering, 8(1), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jeece.20230801.11

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    ACS Style

    Baqe Sharu Doti; Daudi Nyaanga; Samwel Nyakach. Designing, Developing and Testing of a Pyrolysis System: A Case Study of Biochar and Pyroligneous Acid. J. Energy Environ. Chem. Eng. 2023, 8(1), 1-9. doi: 10.11648/j.jeece.20230801.11

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    AMA Style

    Baqe Sharu Doti, Daudi Nyaanga, Samwel Nyakach. Designing, Developing and Testing of a Pyrolysis System: A Case Study of Biochar and Pyroligneous Acid. J Energy Environ Chem Eng. 2023;8(1):1-9. doi: 10.11648/j.jeece.20230801.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.jeece.20230801.11,
      author = {Baqe Sharu Doti and Daudi Nyaanga and Samwel Nyakach},
      title = {Designing, Developing and Testing of a Pyrolysis System: A Case Study of Biochar and Pyroligneous Acid},
      journal = {Journal of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering},
      volume = {8},
      number = {1},
      pages = {1-9},
      doi = {10.11648/j.jeece.20230801.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jeece.20230801.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.jeece.20230801.11},
      abstract = {Pyrolysis being an efficient process through which biomass materials are converted to biochar and pyroligneous acid can be easily achieved by using an efficient pyrolysis system. These pyrolysis products can be used as source of energy for cooking, soil amendment or as biopesticide/biofertilizer. The aim of this study was to design, develop and test a pyrolysis system in production of biochar and pyroligneous acid from forest wastes (twigs of acacia, eucalyptus, and black wattle). Testing of the developed pyrolysis system was based on the production and quality of biochar and pyroligneous acid. The biochar quality was based on its moisture content (MC), volatile matter (VM), ash content (AC), fixed carbon (FC) and pH while for pyroligneous acid, this was based on the pH and density (ρ). The pyrolysis system designed and developed had a carbonization kiln (diameter = 0.5 m and height = 1 m) and pyrolysis smoke condensation system (surface area = 1.16 m2, radius = 0.16 m, 2 number of coiling tubes, height = 1 m, outer chimney/pipe diameter = 0.18 m). The developed pyrolysis system resulted into an average biochar production of 37.31% and 24.90% of pyroligneous acid. The biochar produced had an average MC = 9.1%, VM = 28.8%, AC = 6.9%, FC = 55.2% and pH = 6.7 while the pyroligneous acid had an average ρ = 1.02 gcm-3 and pH = 3.08. This approach of carbonizing agroforestry materials using the developed pyrolysis system enhances diversification of products by capturing what would otherwise be wasted to produce biofuel, bio-fertilizer, and bio-pesticide. This would result in environmental conservation and serve as source of livelihood when these products are marketed.},
     year = {2023}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Designing, Developing and Testing of a Pyrolysis System: A Case Study of Biochar and Pyroligneous Acid
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    PB  - Science Publishing Group
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    AB  - Pyrolysis being an efficient process through which biomass materials are converted to biochar and pyroligneous acid can be easily achieved by using an efficient pyrolysis system. These pyrolysis products can be used as source of energy for cooking, soil amendment or as biopesticide/biofertilizer. The aim of this study was to design, develop and test a pyrolysis system in production of biochar and pyroligneous acid from forest wastes (twigs of acacia, eucalyptus, and black wattle). Testing of the developed pyrolysis system was based on the production and quality of biochar and pyroligneous acid. The biochar quality was based on its moisture content (MC), volatile matter (VM), ash content (AC), fixed carbon (FC) and pH while for pyroligneous acid, this was based on the pH and density (ρ). The pyrolysis system designed and developed had a carbonization kiln (diameter = 0.5 m and height = 1 m) and pyrolysis smoke condensation system (surface area = 1.16 m2, radius = 0.16 m, 2 number of coiling tubes, height = 1 m, outer chimney/pipe diameter = 0.18 m). The developed pyrolysis system resulted into an average biochar production of 37.31% and 24.90% of pyroligneous acid. The biochar produced had an average MC = 9.1%, VM = 28.8%, AC = 6.9%, FC = 55.2% and pH = 6.7 while the pyroligneous acid had an average ρ = 1.02 gcm-3 and pH = 3.08. This approach of carbonizing agroforestry materials using the developed pyrolysis system enhances diversification of products by capturing what would otherwise be wasted to produce biofuel, bio-fertilizer, and bio-pesticide. This would result in environmental conservation and serve as source of livelihood when these products are marketed.
    VL  - 8
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Author Information
  • Department of Agricultural Engineering, Egerton University, Nakuru, Kenya

  • Department of Agricultural Engineering, Egerton University, Nakuru, Kenya

  • Department of Agricultural Engineering, Egerton University, Nakuru, Kenya

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