Effects of the Heat Carrier’s Temperature and Particle Size on the Pyrolysis of Imperata cylindrica in a Transported Bed Reactor

The pyrolysis of Imperata Cylindrica in a transported bed reactor has been carried out using sand as heat carrier. This study is to determine the significant effect of the pyrolysis process condition for heat carrier temperature and particle size on the liquid yield and bio oil properties. Physical and chemical properties of bio-oil such as the water content, pH, viscosity and density were determined. The results showed that the heat carrier’s temperature highly affected the liquid product, yielding 2.30 to 11.89 wt.% in increasing the temperature from 450 to 600°C. The yield increased with larger particle size with 0.375 mm diameter gives maximum yield of 11.88 wt.% (600°C) but decreased gradually until 0.650 mm diameter afterwards.