Studies on co-cracking of jatropha oil with bagasse to obtain liquid, gaseous product and char

Co-cracking of jatropha oil (JO) and bagasse was investigated under TGA conditions. The different heating rates of 5 K min(-1), 15 K min-1, 25 K min(-1) and 35 K min(-1) under the nitrogen (N-2) atmosphere were used. The Flynn-Wall-Ozawa, Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose (KAS) and Friedman models were employed to study the kinetic analysis of the samples. The main components of degradation for cracking of bagasse and co-cracking of JO + Bagasse take place in three steps/phases as observed from DTG curve and even from the Flynn-Wall-Ozawa, KAS and Friedman curves. The co-cracking reactions were carried out in a fixed bed tubular batch reactor and the results indicate the presence of interactions among the reactive intermediates of JO and Bagasse. The synergism of the co-cracking process was observed from the yield of gaseous products and char. The liquid product obtained from the co-cracking of JO + Bagasse was aliphatic in nature. The deoxygenation, decarboxylation, decarbonylation reactions taking place during co-cracking process resulted in the removal of oxygenates from the co-cracked liquids. GC MS of the co-cracked liquid indicated the presence of alkanes (47%). The gaseous products consisted of methane, n-pentane, n-butane, 2-methyl butane and certain uncondensed components. The chars obtained contained metals such as Mg, Al, Fe, K etc. The feasibility of utilization of the liquid, solid and gaseous products obtained from co-cracking as a fuel source was observed. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.