title: A new technique to pyrolyse biomass in a microwave system: effect of stirrer speed.
abstract: A new technique to pyrolyse biomass in microwave (MW) system is presented in this paper to solve the problem of bio-oil deposition. Pyrolysis of oil palm shell (OPS) biomass was conducted in 800 W and 2.45 GHz frequency MW system using an activated carbon as a MW absorber. The temperature profile, product yield and the properties of the products were found to depend on the stirrer speed and MW absorber percentage. The highest bio-oil yield of 28 wt.% was obtained at 25% MW absorber and 50 rpm stirrer speed. Bio-char showed highest calorific value of the 29.5 MJ/kg at 50% MW absorber and 100 rpm stirrer speed. Bio-oil from this study was rich in phenol with highest detected as 85 area% from the GC-MS results. Thus, OPS bio-oil can become potential alternative to petroleum-based chemicals in various phenolic based applications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thermodynamics and Fluid Mechanics, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, UTM 81310, Skudai, Johor Bahru, Johor Darul T'azim, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Zubairu
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Abubakar
authors.forename: Arshad Adam
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Salema
authors.forename: Farid Nasir
authors.initials: FN
authors.lastname: Ani
mesh_terms: D029064:Araceae / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D017745:Incineration / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008872:Microwaves; D012037:Refuse Disposal / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012212:Rheology / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012399:Rotation