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Preliminary characterisation and valorisation of Ficus benjamina fruits for biofuel application

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Abstract

Ficus benjamina (FB) is a perennial plant that serves ornamental purposes. Its fruits are nonedible and considered ‘waste’ with no defined application. This paper discusses the valorisation and identification of the potential of Ficus benjamina fruits as a suitable biofuel feedstock. The whole fruit was characterised by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDS), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and bomb calorimeter. In addition, the proximate and ultimate analyses were performed to determine their physical, thermal, and chemical properties for potential biofuel application. Pulverised Ficus benjamina fruits (PFB) have a porous morphology that makes them less dense with a crystallinity index of 25.5%. The moisture, ash, volatile matter, and fixed carbon contents were 9.29, 6.26, 64.35, and 20.10%, respectively. The higher heating value (19.74 MJ/kg) and lower heating value (18.55 MJ/kg) are comparable to other biomass feedstocks. The results establish the possibility of using PFB as a solid biofuel.

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Data supporting the findings of this study is available upon request.

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Acknowledgements

U.S.E. is grateful for the PAMI fellowship at the African University of Science and Technology; Abuja. M.G.P. acknowledges support from the Ramon y Cajal Programme (RYC-2015-17516) of the Government of Spain, cofinanced by the European Social Fund.

Funding

This research was partially supported by the Ramon y Cajal Programme (grant number: RyC-2015–17516) of the Government of Spain, co-financed by the European Social Fund.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Material Science and Engineering, African University of Science and Technology, Km 10 Airport Rd, Galadimawa, Abuja, Nigeria

    Uchechukwu Stella Ezealigo & Azikiwe Peter Onwualu

  2. Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, PMB 410001, Nigeria

    Blessing Nonye Ezealigo

  3. Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología del Carbono, INCAR-CSIC, C/Francisco Pintado Fe 26, 33011, Oviedo, Spain

    Marta González Plaza

  4. Department of Science Laboratory Technology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, PMB 410001, Nigeria

    Ebubechukwu Nnamdi Dim

  5. Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Accra Rd, Kumasi, Ghana

    Francis Kemausuor

  6. Department of Chemical Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 635 Prices Fork, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA

    Luke Ekem Kweku Achenie

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  1. Uchechukwu Stella Ezealigo
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Contributions

USE: manuscript writing, conceptualisation, and data analysis. BNE: graph analysis and manuscript review and editing. MGP: characterisations and manuscript review and editing. END: characterisations. KF: manuscript review and editing. LEKA: manuscript review, editing, and general supervision. APO: manuscript review, editing, and general supervision.

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Correspondence to Uchechukwu Stella Ezealigo.

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Highlights

• Ficus benjamina fruits biomass waste is morphologically porous

• It is eco-friendly with low sulphur and nitrogen contents

• The higher heating value is comparable to wood dust and switchgrass

• These fruits have potential for solid biofuel and other applications

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Ezealigo, U.S., Ezealigo, B.N., Plaza, M.G. et al. Preliminary characterisation and valorisation of Ficus benjamina fruits for biofuel application. Biomass Conv. Bioref. 13, 12643–12654 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13399-021-02230-1

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