STUDY OF EFFECTS OF SOME CATALYSTS IN BIOMASS PYROLYSIS

To convert biomass into gas and liquid for efficient utilization of bioenergy is getting very interest now a day. In this regard several researches have been carried out on the biomass pyrolysis to produce bio-oil. In this work main aim is to see the effect of some catalysts like Al2O3, CaCO3 and ZnO on the biomasses like saw dust and rice husk pyrolysis in terms of thermal degradation as the rate of thermal degradation effects the product of the pyrolysis of the biomass sample. Proximate analysis of the samples have been done to see the ash content, moisture content, volatile matter etc. that contained in the biomass sample. The ultimate analysis is carried out to check the elemental components like C, H, N, O, S etc. using CHN (Carbon, Hydrogen and Nitrogen) analyzer. The Bomb calorimeter is used to determine the calorific value of the biomass sample. The calorific value of both the samples are found to be around 16.32 MJ/kg which is lower than the high grade fossil fuel like anthracite coal having calorific value of 27MJ/kg. In TGA (Thermo gravimetric analysis) the behavior of the thermal degradation of the biomasses with and without the mixing of catalysts where significant differences were found by the help of curves obtained. It has been observed that the total time required for complete vaporization of the biomasses is more as compared to the bare biomass samples on heating although by the mix of some catalysts with some biomasses, there is negligible changes occur in the thermal degradation.