Fast pyrolysis characteristics and kinetic study of Ceylon tea waste

Biocrude-oil, produced through thermochemical process of fast pyrolysis, can also be a possible alternative renewable liquid fuel, although lower in heating value in comparison to that of conventional petroleum fuels. Aqueous biocrude-oil solutions can be a favorable intermediate step in the production of hydrogen. Annually abundantly found Ceylon Refused Tea Waste is used in this study to produce biocrude-oil, while producing a sustainable and useful biochar. Ceylon Refused Tea was subjected to varying pyrolysis reaction temperatures ranging from 723, 773, 823 and 873 K in order to analyze the variations of physico-chemical properties of produced biocrude-oils alongside establishing optimum mass and energy yields for biocrude-oil production. Thermogravimetric and kinetic analysis was also performed for Ceylon Refuse Tea Waste. The reaction temperature of 773 K converted the highest biocrude-oil energy yields with a HHV of 15.6 MJ/kg and a water content of 36.8 wt%. The FTIR analysis establishes high aqueous fractions of biocrude-oil which can lead to favorable hydrogen production. Comparative study is done with respect to Douglas fir and coffee ground on the suitability of the feed in producing biocrude-oil. (C) 2016 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.