University of the Punjab Conference Portal, Third International Conference on Engineering Sciences

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Pyrolysis: An Experimental Setup for the Synthesis of Furfural through various Biomasses in Fixed Bed Reactor
Mahmood Saleem, Nazia Baig

Last modified: 2017-10-10

Abstract


The requirement for the bio-based fuels and biochemicals has reported a drastic rise, gratefully the growing knowledge concerning the renewable alternatives of fossil capital. Furfural, being a renewable platform for the synthesis of biofuels and biochemicals, is gaining attention from this increasing demand. As furfural acts as a natural precursor of pharmaceutical intermediates and mixture is probably to enlarge significantly in the years to come. On the economic point of view, there are inefficient processes and lack of technological advancement and expensive use of a various catalyst may confine the market from growing over the forthcoming years. Pharmaceuticals, solvents, and chemical intermediates are the key application areas for furfural furthermore this compound also finds secondary application in herbicides, pesticides, and flavors and fragrance.

         Biomass feedstock has been utilized s source of energy in present state of interaction of increasing fossil fuels prizes. Biomass feedstocks are increased in comparison to fossil fuels in terms of their carbon neutral structural behavior. Pyrolysis of biomass has been widely known as thermal decomposition in the absence of oxygen. It is the essential chemical reaction that is the indication of both the combustion and gasification processes. Characterization of different biomass feedstock has been studied through proximate analysis and heating value.

           In present work different samples of lignocellulosic biomass (Rice Husk, Bagasse, and Sawdust of Sheesham and Popler) after complete drying and pretreatment steps are prepared, and subjected to pyrolysis at different temperature (250- 500 deg C) in Nitrogen environment with various catalysts. An experimental setup is developed for the synthesis of furfural. The proximate analysis of biomass is also performed to determine the moisture content, ash content, Volatile matter and fixed carbon. Less moisture content of biomass residue improves the efficiency and yield of the pyrolysis products. A pyrolysis liquid product has been analyzed on GC-FID which represents an improved yield of furfural.    

Keywords: Pyrolysis, Proximate analysis, Furfural, GC-FID