Title: Rice straw biomass conversion into biochar as a potential solid fuel with high heating value using microwave vacuum pyrolysis technology

Authors: Chanpreet Singh; Anoop Kumar Singh; Nitin Saluja

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Chitkara University Institute of Engineering & Technology, Chitkara University, Punjab, India ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Chitkara University Institute of Engineering & Technology, Chitkara University, Punjab, India ' Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, Chitkara University Institute of Engineering & Technology, Chitkara University, Punjab, India

Abstract: The wide availability of biomass attracts the focus of researchers owing to the capability to convert it into the form of biofuel. Rice straw is one of the agricultural wastes that has been burned on farms in past years and requires an alternate solution to be converted into biochar. This work proposes an experimental validation that aids in the development of high-efficiency microwave vacuum pyrolysis (MVP) of biomass without exceeding a temperature limit of up to 600°C-700°C, preserving the yield of biochar. The straw waste is processed in the MVP at different microwave power ratings of 450 W, 600 W, and 750 W with a constant vacuum pressure of 0.03 MPa. The sample is analysed for thermogravimetric, proximate, ultimate analyses, and high heating value (HHV). The obtained results of biochar yield are 43, 40, and 37 wt.% with the HHV of 14-16 MJ Kg^-1. [Received: June 2, 2023; Accepted: June 21, 2023]

Keywords: microwave pyrolysis; vacuum; biomass waste; biochar yield; solid fuel; rice straw.

DOI: 10.1504/IJOGCT.2023.134573

International Journal of Oil, Gas and Coal Technology, 2023 Vol.34 No.3, pp.301 - 314

Received: 27 Mar 2023
Accepted: 21 Jun 2023
Published online: 27 Oct 2023 *

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