TORREFACTION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF MAHOGANY SAWDUST FOR SOLID FUEL PRODUTION
- Project Research
- 1-5 Chapters
- Abstract : Available
- Table of Content: Available
- Reference Style: APA
- Recommended for : Student Researchers
- NGN 3000
ABSTRACT
As interest in biomass utilization into combustion fuels grows, the torrefaction, becomes ever more important. Torrefaction is aimed to maximize energy by removing undesirable components (water, hemicellulose and volatile matter) which cause poor ignition characteristic, excessive smoking and low combustion efficiency when used for energy generation in boilers and blast furnaces. In this research, the effect of torrefaction on the physiochemical and combustion characteristic of tropical biomass (Mahogany Sawdust) were investigated. The proximate and ultimate analyses of the tropical biomass were determined before torrefaction and at different torrefaction temperature (200, 250 and 300 oC). The Sawdust was subjected to thermal degradation test via Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA). Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) analyses were also carried out to determine the presence of active functional group in the raw biomass and the resulting torrefied biomass. Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis was finally carried out to determine the morphologies of the raw and torrefied biomass. The result of biomass weight loss as function of temperature variation revealed that at relatively low torrefaction temperature of 200 and 250 oC the weight loss were very pronounced, whereas at torrefaction temperature of 300oC, the weight loss of the tested biomass becomes relatively negligible. In the fixed bed furnace, the change in sawdust mass yield between 10 min was (21.37%) and 30 min (32.14%) at 200oC was about 10.77% and it increased between 200oC and 300oC. The oxygen-carbon ratio deduced from the ultimate analysis of the torrefied biomass displayed a low and concentrated distribution in the Van Krevelin plot than those of raw biomasses. The thermal stability of the biomass feedstock from TGA were found to be in the decreasing order of 300>250>200OC. TGA curves for raw sawdust and torrefied sawdust showed three main decomposition with the curves of torrefied sawdust shifting to higher temperatures. The energy yield of torrefied sawdust is higher than that of untorrefied sawdust. The optimal heating value of the torrefied SD was found to be 28.2 MJkg-1 against 19.5MJkg-1 of the raw SD depicting 44.62% increase of the heating value. The FTIR showed that torrefied sawdust at 300oC has more C=C than sawdust torrefied at 200oC and 250oC. The plot of conversion against temperature and ln g (α) against 1/T for SD using first order kinetic shows first order kinetic shows a linear relationship with regression coefficient (R2 ) of 0.7442.The torrefied briquettes strength was in order of: 300OC>250OC>200OC. The finding from this study revealed that the Sawdust from mahogany can be used as a solid renewable and environmentally friendly fuel as an alternative or potential replacement for coal.
Related Project Materials
CULTURE OF ZOOPLANKTON (BRACHIONUS CALYCIFLORUS, MOINA MICRURA AND DAPHNIA PULEX) AS LIVE FOOD FOR HETEROBRANCHUS BIDORSALIS HATCHLINGS.
ABSTRACT
Live food Zooplankton population density in different zones of Awuma River at Shabu were investigated and Brachionus calycifloru...
EFFECTS OF DIRECT AND DISCOVERY METHODS ON MAIN IDEA COMPREHENSION ABILITY OF SELECTED SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN PLATEAU STATE, NIGERIA
ABSTRACT
The present study was designed to compare the effects of the Direct Method and the Discovery Method on students’ main idea...
AN ANALYSIS OF VERBS AND ADVERBIAL PHRASES: USES AND PROBLEMS IN CONTEXUAL GRAMMAR
ABSTRACT
This research is focused on verb and adverbial phrases, their uses and problems in contextual grammar. Data was...
EFFECTS OF SOME WEATHER ELEMENTS ON THE OCCURRENCE OF MALARIA, TYPHOID AND TUBERCULOSIS CASES IN ONITSHA NORTH LGA, ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA.
ABSTRACT
This study was carried out on the effects of some weather elements on the occurrence of Malaria, Typhoid...
AN APPRAISAL OF INMATES’ REHABILITATION FACILITIES IN KADUNA AND ZARIA PRISONS
ABSTRACT
This central thrust of this research is to appraise the inmates’ rehabilitation facilities in Nigerian Pr...
THE INFLUENCE OF EDITORIAL CARTOONS ON THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, USING 2015 AS A STUDY
Background of the study
Media is undeniably a powerful and quick mode of communication. It has a tremen...
PROBLEMS AND PROSPECT OF ELECTRONIC BANKING IN NIGERIA
ABSTRACT
This research work is an attempt to find out the “problem and prospects of electronic b...
AN EXAMINATION OF THE QUALITY OF GRADUATES PRODUCED BY THE TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS IN NIGERIA
ABSTRACT
This study examines the quality of graduates produced by the tertiary institutions in Nig...
PHARMACOGNOSTIC AND ANALGESIC STUDIES OFDESMODIUM VELUTINUM (P.BEAUV.) DC.(PAPILIONACEAE)
ABSTRACT
Pain is an unpleasant sensation often associated with disease and/ or injury. The people in Lokoja use traditional medicine espe...
CRITICAL EXAMINATION OF THE RIGHT OF ARTIFICIALLY INSEMINATED CHILD TO INHERIT UNDER ISLAMIC LAW
ABSTRACT
The advancement in Science and Technology and the quest for children led to the development an...
