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Investigation on thermochemical characteristics and pyrolysis kinetics of lignocellulosic biomass for biofuel production feasibility

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Abstract

Sustainable technologies provide a route to address future energy needs by converting lignocellulosic biomass into fuels, eco-friendly substances, and chemicals. These advancements hold promise as substitutes for fossil fuels while maintaining a carbon–neutral footprint. The current research is centered around investigating the potential of biomass waste betel nut inflorescence (BNI), red lucky nut seed pod (RLP), and Cycas circinalis seed shell (CSS) for producing biofuels through thorough physiochemical analysis. Various methods were used to characterize the selected biomass waste, including proximate and ultimate analysis, TGA, FTIR spectroscopy, and XRD. Among the studied biomass types, the CSS biomass exhibited the highest calorific value, 16.36 MJ/kg. Lowest value is reported 13.50 MJ/kg for BNI. Alcoholic and phenolic functional groups, along with alkanes, alkenes, and certain aromatic compounds, were detected in all biomass samples. The XRD results indicate that all biomass exhibits an amorphous structure with low-intensity peaks indicative of cellulose presence. In each instance, the highest weight reduction occurred between 200 and 500 °C during thermal pyrolysis. To understand the kinetics of the process, model-free techniques like Kissinger–Akahira–Sunose (KAS) and Flynn–Wall–Ozawa (FWO) were employed to determine the kinetic parameters. The activation energies obtained from both the FWO and KAS models were around 274.19 kJ/mol, 161.17 kJ/mol, and 333.92 kJ/mol for CSS, BNI, and RLP biomass, respectively. The absence of sulfur and minimal nitrogen content observed in all analyzed biomass samples underscores their environmentally favorable attributes. The research findings substantiate the viability of the selected biomass feedstocks for utilization in bioenergy production.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to extend their heartfelt appreciation to the Department of Chemical Engineering at the National Institute of Technology Calicut (NITC) for generously providing the essential research facilities. Furthermore, the authors would like to convey their thanks to the Department of School of Material Science and Engineering at NITC for their kind assistance in conducting characterization. The authors are also indebted to STIC–CUSAT for their expertise and support in performing CHNS elemental analysis.

Funding

The authors wish to express their sincere gratitude for the invaluable financial support received from the Ministry of Education (India).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, National Institute of Technology Calicut, Kattangal, Kerala, 673601, India

    G. S. Vanisree, Akash M. Chandran & K. Aparna

  2. Department of Metallurgical Engineering & Materials Science, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, Maharashtra, 400076, India

    Akash M. Chandran

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  1. G. S. Vanisree
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Vanisree GS: conceptualization, methodology, formal analysis, experimentation validation, and writing a manuscript. Akash M Chandran: plotting, analysis, review, and editing. Aparna K: guidance, review, and proofreading.

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Correspondence to K. Aparna.

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Vanisree, G.S., Chandran, A.M. & Aparna, K. Investigation on thermochemical characteristics and pyrolysis kinetics of lignocellulosic biomass for biofuel production feasibility. Biomass Conv. Bioref. (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13399-024-05657-4

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