Design and development of a fixed-bed pyrolysis plant for the production of biofuel from biomass and agricultural wastes

Thermo decomposition of biomass and agricultural products to produce biochar, bio-oil, and biogas is an environmentally friendly process. Bio-oil is the most valuable among the three products and is an alternative to fossil fuel. Energy crisis is a global issue that requires sustainability of energy sources. Using fossil fuels has resulted in ozone layer depletion, global warming, and greenhouse gas effects with negative consequences. Palm kernel shells (PKS) and other agricultural wastes are underutilized in various ways. A fixed-bed batch reactor was designed and developed to convert palm kernel shells to bio-oil (biofuel) as an alternative to fossil fuel. In the 4 kg batch, the biochar reduced from 54 to 17wt%, bio-oil from 32 to 60 wt%, biogas from 12 to 23wt%, and bio-oil volume from 1256 to 1968 cm3 at the pyrolysis temperature of 300 to 600 oC. The 5 kg batch produced changed from 54 to 24 wt% of biochar, 31 to 56wt% of bio-oil, 15 to 19 wt% of biogas, and bio-oil volume from 2410 to 2655 cm3 as the temperature increased from 300 to 600 oC. The bio-oil is applicable and useful in running internal combustion engines. Biofuel has the physical properties of oil such as smell and colour. Biofuel is an alternative to fossil fuel for a cleaner and greener environment.