Comprehensive characterization of Napier grass as a feedstock for thermochemical conversion

Abstract

Study on Napier grass leaf (NGL), stem (NGS) and leaf and stem (NGT) was carried out. Proximate, ultimate and structural analyses were evaluated. Functional groups and crystalline components in the biomass were examined. Pyrolysis study was conducted in a thermogravimetric analyzer under nitrogen atmosphere of 20 mL/min at constant heating rate of 10 K/min. The results reveal that Napier grass biomass has high volatile matter, higher heating value, high carbon content and lower ash, nitrogen and sulfur contents. Structural analysis shows that the biomass has considerable cellulose and lignin contents which are good candidates for good quality bio-oil production. From the pyrolysis study, degradation of extractives, hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin occurred at temperature around 478, 543, 600 and above 600 K, respectively. Kinetics of the process was evaluated using reaction order model. New equations that described the process were developed using the kinetic parameters and data compared with experimental data. The results of the models fit well to the experimental data. The proposed models may be a reliable means for describing thermal decomposition of lignocellulosic biomass under nitrogen atmosphere at constant heating rate.

Publication DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/en8053403
Divisions: College of Engineering & Physical Sciences
Additional Information: This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Funding: Crops for the Future (CFF) and University of Nottingham under the grant BioP1-005
Uncontrolled Keywords: characterization,DTG,FTIR,Napier grass,proximate and ultimate analysis,TGA,XRD,General Computer Science
Publication ISSN: 1996-1073
Last Modified: 06 Dec 2024 08:08
Date Deposited: 01 Dec 2015 09:45
Full Text Link: http://www.mdpi ... 6-1073/8/5/3403
Related URLs: http://www.scop ... tnerID=8YFLogxK (Scopus URL)
PURE Output Type: Special issue
Published Date: 2015-12
Authors: Mohammed, Isah Y.
Abakr, Yousif A.
K. Kazi, Feroz
Yusup, Suzana
Alshareef, Ibraheem
Chin, Soh A.

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License: Creative Commons Attribution


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