Pyrolysis of Mixed Date Stones and Pistachio Shells: Identification of Bio-Oil and Utilization of Bio-Char as Activated Carbon Precursor |
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Authors: | Ass. Lecturer Shaimaa Y. Ibrahim Dr. Saad F. Mahmood Ass. Lecturer Shahla A. Younis Prof. Dr. Abdelrahman B. Fadhil |
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Affiliation: | 1. Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Mosul University, Mosul, Iraq;2. Department of New and Renewable Energies, College of Science, Mosul University, Mosul, Iraq |
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Abstract: | Thermal pyrolysis of mixed date stones and pistachio shells in a semi-batch reactor was addressed in this study. The highest yield of liquids (51.20 %) was produced at 500 °C, 90 min, 20 °C/min heating rate, and 50 mesh particle size. Under these conditions, yield of liquid from date stones and pistachio shells separately was 49.12 % and 47.67 %, respectively. The FT-IR results confirmed the presence of multiple oxygen-containing compounds in the bio-oil. Results from GC–MS declared that it was predominately composed of acids (57.57 %), esters (21.35 %), phenols (4.63 5), and alcohols (3.49 5). The obtained biochar was transformed into activated carbon (AC) by the optimized ZnCl2 activation method. The ideal AC was synthesized at 600 °C for 60 min using a 2 : 1 ZnCl2: biochar impregnation ratio. FESEM and XRD measurements showed that the AC was amorphous. The prepared AC was effective in eliminating dibenzothiophene (DBT) from model fuel (200 ppm DBT/hexane) with a maximum performance 95.26 % at 40 °C for 1h using 0.35 g of the AC. The exhausted AC was regenerated and reutilized 4 times, and removal efficiency reached 88.23 % in the 4th cycle under ideal working conditions. |
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Keywords: | Solid bio-wastes Pyrolysis Bio-oil Carbon adsorbent Adsorptive desulfurization. |
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