Energy Recovery from Pumpkin Peel Using Microwave-Assisted Pyrolysis

Scarlett Allende, Graham Brodie and Mohan V. Jacob ()
Additional contact information
Scarlett Allende: Electronics Material Laboratory, College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
Graham Brodie: Electronics Material Laboratory, College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
Mohan V. Jacob: Electronics Material Laboratory, College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 18, 1-11

Abstract: The significant quantities of food waste that require disposal have a high environmental impact, and the depletion of non-renewable fuel sources has heightened the need to investigate sustainable and efficient methods of biomass conversion into energy. This research focuses on utilising pumpkin peel as a feedstock for energy recovery through microwave pyrolysis under different operating conditions. The study demonstrated that a higher biochar yield (11 wt%) was achieved at 0.9 kW. However, results revealed that superior quality biochar was obtained at 1.2 kW, characterized by high carbon content (70.33%), low oxygen content (23%), and significant pore formation in the carbon surface area. Optimal operating conditions, such as 1.2 kW, resulted in superior quality biochar and higher bio-oil generation. The pumpkin peel demonstrated the potential for CO 2 (carbon dioxide) sequestration, with a rate of 14.29 g CO 2 eq/kg. The research findings contribute to the exploration of sustainable solutions for biomass conversion and emphasize the importance of utilizing food waste for energy production while mitigating environmental impacts.

Keywords: microwave pyrolysis; food waste; biochar; bio-oil (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/18/6438/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/18/6438/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jeners:v:16:y:2023:i:18:p:6438-:d:1233860

Access Statistics for this article

Energies is currently edited by Ms. Agatha Cao

More articles in Energies from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().