Physicochemical Characterisation and the Prospects of Biofuel Production from Rubberwood Sawdust and Sewage Sludge

Liaqat Ali, Khurshid Ahmed Baloch, Arkom Palamanit, Shan Ali Raza, Sawanya Laohaprapanon and Kuaanan Techato
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Liaqat Ali: Sustainable Energy Management Program, Faculty of Environmental Management, Prince of Songkla University, HatYai, Songkhla 90110, Thailand
Khurshid Ahmed Baloch: Exocrine Gland Biology and Regeneration Research Group, Faculty of Dentistry, Chulalongkorn University, 34 Henri-Dunant Road, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Arkom Palamanit: Energy Technology Program, Department of Specialized Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla 90110, Thailand
Shan Ali Raza: Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Life Science, Balochistan University of Information Technology Engineering & Management Sciences, Quetta Balochistan 87300, Pakistan
Sawanya Laohaprapanon: School of Public Health, Walailak University, Tha-Sala District, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, Thailand
Kuaanan Techato: Faculty of Environmental Management, Prince of Songkla University, HatYai, Songkhla 90110, Thailand

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 11, 1-16

Abstract: This study aims to evaluate the physicochemical properties of rubberwood sawdust (RWS) and sewage sludge (SS) for producing biofuel or liquid products via pyrolysis and co-pyrolysis. The chemical and thermal properties of both samples were observed to have superior bioenergy production capabilities. RWS and SS had significantly different physicochemical properties, such as particle-size distribution, bulk density, ultimate and proximate analysis, lignocellulose composition, thermal-degradation behaviour, and major and minor elements. The composition of extractives was found to only marginally affect the end product. Carbon and hydrogen content, the two main elements for biofuel enhancement, were found to correlate with the organic components of both RWS (48.49, 7.15 wt.%) and SS (32.29, 4.06 wt.%). SS had a higher elemental composition of iron, calcium, and potassium than RWS. Both samples had a higher heating value of 13.98 to 21.01 MJ/kg and a lower heating value of 11.65 to 17.66 MJ/kg, a lesser energy potential than that of fossil fuels. The findings from these blends are relatively moderate due to the related lignocellulosic potential composition. The novel contribution of this research was to optimize the use of local waste materials as a new raw material for biofuel production that could serve as a sustainable fuel source.

Keywords: biofuel; liquid; rubberwood sawdust; sewage sludge; physicochemical properties; characterisation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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