EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF PRODUCT DISTRIBUTION FROM PYROLYSIS OF DIFFERENT WOOD SPECIES RESIDUES

P. O. Okekunle; D. Jeremiah; O. S. Abimbola

P. O. Okekunle
D. Jeremiah
O. S. Abimbola

Abstract

The pyrolysis characteristics of different wood species residues [Ayin (Anogneissusleiocarpa), Araba (Ceibapentandra), Dongoyaro (Azadirachtaindica), Iroko (Milicia excels) andGedu (Tectonagrandis)] have been investigated in an electrically heated fixed bed batch reactor at pyrolysis temperature of 500 ^oC and 15 minutes residence time. Tar was trapped in an ice bath during the experiment. Product yields (tar, gas and char) were collected, weighed and expressed in percentage of the initial weight of the sample after each run. Results showed that Anogneissusleiocarpagave the highest char yield (33.3%), Azadirachtaindica and Milicia excels, the highest tar yield (42.7%) and Ceibapentandra, the highest gas yield (40.7%). For all the wood species residues, tar yields were relatively high. This was attributed to high percentage of cellulose in the wood species. It was inferred that in situations where pyrolysis oil is most preferred, Azadirachtaindica and Milicia excelsshould be considered as feedstock for pyrolysis and that pyrolysis of woody biomass at 500 ^oCfavoured tar yield.

Author Biographies

P. O. Okekunle

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Technology,

Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, P. M. B. 4000, Ogbomoso, Oyo state, Nigeria

D. Jeremiah

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Technology,

Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, P. M. B. 4000, Ogbomoso, Oyo state, Nigeria.

O. S. Abimbola

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Technology,

Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, P. M. B. 4000, Ogbomoso, Oyo state, Nigeria.