Batch pyrolysis of cotton stalks for evaluation of biochar energy potential

Rafat Al Afif, S. Sean Anayah and Christoph Pfeifer

Renewable Energy, 2020, vol. 147, issue P1, 2250-2258

Abstract: The thermal cracking of cotton stalks (CS) through pyrolysis was undertaken using a laboratory scale batch pyrolysis reactor. The distribution of pyrolysis products were studied dependent on the final pyrolysis temperature which ranged from 300 to 800 °C by 100K intervals. The maximum biochar yield of 46.5% was obtained at 400 °C. As the pyrolysis process temperature increased, the solid char product yield decreased. The largest higher heating value (25.845 MJ kg−1) was obtained at 600 °C. All biochar samples produced between 500 and 700 °C had an energy densification ratio of 1.41, indicating a higher mass-energy density than the initial feedstock. A larger share of syngas and bio-oil were produced at higher temperatures, as estimated. Preferential selection of a char based on the energy yield would lead to a selection of the 400 °C product, while selection based on the energy densification ratio would be for a product obtained between 500 and 700 °C. An energy simulation was conducted which determined that the process is self-sustaining at and above 400 °C. Furthermore, the global energy potential was determined from CS pyrolysis, which was estimated at 380 PJ yr−1 could contribute to roughly 0.1% of the actual global total primary energy supply of 576 EJ yr−1.

Keywords: Cotton stalks; Pyrolysis; Biochar; Energy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (10)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:renene:v:147:y:2020:i:p1:p:2250-2258

DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2019.09.146

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