title: Effect of fractionation and pyrolysis on fuel properties of poultry litter.
abstract: Raw poultry litter has certain drawbacks for energy production such as high ash and moisture content, a corrosive nature, and low heating values. A combined solution to utilization of raw poultry litter may involve fractionation and pyrolysis. Fractionation divides poultry litter into a fine, nutrient-rich fraction and a coarse, carbon-dense fraction. Pyrolysis of the coarse fraction would remove the corrosive volatiles as bio-oil, leaving clean char. This paper presents the effect of fractionation and pyrolysis process parameters on the calorific value of char and on the characterization of bio-oil. Poultry litter samples collected from three commercial poultry farms were divided into 10 treatments that included 2 controls (raw poultry litter and its coarse fraction having particle size greater than 0.85 mm) and 8 other treatments that were combinations of three factors: type (raw poultry litter or its coarse fraction), heating rate (30 or 10 degrees C/min), and pyrolysis temperature (300 or 500 degrees C). After the screening process, the poultry litter samples were dried and pyrolyzed in a batch reactor under nitrogen atmosphere and char and condensate yields were recorded. The condensate was separated into three fractions on the basis of their density: heavy, medium, and light phase. Calorific value and proximate and nutrient analysis were performed for char, condensate, and feedstock. Results show that the char with the highest calorific value (17.39 +/- 1.37 MJ/kg) was made from the coarse fraction at 300 degrees C, which captured 68.71 +/- 9.37% of the feedstock energy. The char produced at 300 degrees C had 42 +/- 11 mg/kg arsenic content but no mercury. Almost all of the Al, Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Na, and P remained in the char. The pyrolysis process reduced ammoniacal-nitrogen (NH4-N) in char by 99.14 +/- 0.47% and nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N) by 95.79 +/- 5.45% at 500 degrees C.
authors.affiliation: Division of Forestry and Natural Resources, West Virginia University, Morgantown, USA. kaushlendra.singh@mail.wvu.edu
authors.forename: Kaushlendra
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: L Mark
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Risse
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Das
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Worley
authors.forename: Sidney
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thompson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004736:Energy-Generating Resources; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000517:prevention & control; D005430:Floors and Floorcoverings; D006799:Housing, Animal; D017745:Incineration; D028223:Pinus; D011200:Poultry; D012037:Refuse Disposal / Q000379:methods; D014934:Wood / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants