By: Popoola A. D.; Anguruwa G. T.; Oluwadare A. O.; RIKI J. T.;
Abstract:
Biomass is a renewable natural resource per excellence for the present and the future as well and it appears to have formidable positive eco-friendly properties. The high regenerative ability and decay resistance of pine needles has influenced its continual relegation as an unimportant forest product. There is need to transform these species residues (needles) into forms that will make their combustion easier and more efficient. In this study, the physical and chemical properties of Bio-oil from Pinus caribea Needles were investigated. Pine needles were collected from felled tree in the Department of Zoology (University of Ibadan) and grounded to 6 mm particle size to yield sufficiently small particles. Approximately 4.92kg of pine needles was oven dried at 100±3⁰C until constant weight to determine the moisture content. 820g of shredded pine needles was loaded into the vacuum pyrolysis chamber reactor at 600˚C and 700˚C in triplicates. Physico-chemical and compositional analyses of the bio-oil were achieved through carbon-hydrogen-nitrogen-sulphur (CHNS) studies, Calorific Value, Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) through standard procedures (American Standard for Testing and Materials). Data were analysed using t-test at α0.05. The pyrolytic product at 700˚C had higher bio-oil yield, Density, Moisture content and pH of 10%, 1.0975kg/dm3, 4.76% and 6.635 respectively. Ultimate analysis for the following elements C, H, O ranged from (83.97 - 85.43%), (13.29-14.23%) and (0.40- 0.53%) for 600˚C and 700˚ respectively, while Sulphur and Nitrogen were available in trace amounts at both temperature regime. The proximate analysis was favourable at 700˚C with lower Ash content and higher heating value of 0.67% and 48.96±0.1825Mj/Kg1 respectively. The functional groups with FT-IR analysis include alcohols, esters, alkynes with most of the compounds characterized by saturated bonds. GC-MS of the bio-oil showed mostly hydrocarbons including aromatic compounds (phenols and alkenes) and some aliphatic compounds. The result of this study is an indication that bio-oil of Pinus caribea needles revealed its potential for fossil fuel substitution and bio-chemical production.
Keywords: Pinus caribea; Needles; Pyrolysis; Physical Properties; Ultimate Analysis
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