Co-pyrolysis of cotton stalk and waste tire with a focus on liquid yield quantity and quality

• Published in: Renewable energy 2019-01, Vol.130, p.238-244
• Main Authors: Shah, Syed Asfand Yar, Zeeshan, Muhammad, Farooq, Muhammad Zohaib, Ahmed, Naveed, Iqbal, Naseem
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Co-pyrolysis; Cotton stalk; Liquid yield; Pyrolysis oil; Waste tire
• ISSN: 0960-1481; 1879-0682
• DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2018.06.045

In this study, effect of waste tire (WT) addition to cotton stalk (CS) pyrolysis is investigated with a focus on liquid co-pyrolysis yield quantity and quality. Various blend ratios (i.e. CS/WT 1:0, 4:1, 3:2, 2:3, 0:1) of the two feedstocks were experimented in a fixed bed reactor at 20 °C/min heating ramp rate up to 550 °C with 50 ml/min flowrate of nitrogen as sweeping gas. Blend ratio CS/WT (2:3) showed maximum oil yield (48 wt%) with organic phase (OP) above 78 wt% of the total liquid yield (OP + aqueous phase, AP). OP of CS/WT (2:3) along with those of CS/WT (1:0) and (0:1) were further analyzed qualitatively using analytical techniques including, FTIR, GC-MS, bomb calorimetry and elemental analyzer. Significant increase in carbon and decrease in oxygen content of the CS/WT (2:3) pyrolytic oil was observed which improved its calorific value to 41 MJ/kg. Among the three OP samples, only CS/WT (2:3) oil showed significant presence of alkanes in GC-MS results, which is, thus, associated with the synergistic effect of the co-pyrolysis process. Addition of WT to CS pyrolysis feedstock improved liquid yield and its quality, thus requiring lesser further processing for its commercial use as compared to that of CS/WT (1:0) oil. [Display omitted] •Co-pyrolysis of waste tire and cotton stalk was investigated for the first time.•Increased Oil and char yield found in co-pyrolysis oil; maximum for CS/WT (3:2).•CS/WT (3:2) oil showed calorific value of 41 MJ/kg, comparable to diesel.•CS/WT (3:2) oil contained higher sulfur, aldehydes and ketonic content.