title: Energy potential from rice husk through direct combustion and fast pyrolysis: A review.
abstract: Rapid population growth and consumption of goods and services imply that demand for energy and resources increases continuously. Energy consumption linked to non-renewable resources contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and enhances resource depletion. In this context, the use of agricultural solid residues such as rice husk, coffee husk, wheat straw, sugar cane bagasse, among others, has been widely studied as an alternative energy source in order to decrease the use of fossil fuels. However, rice husk is among those agricultural residues that are least used to obtain energy in developing countries. Approximately 134 million tonnes of rice husk are produced annually in the world, of which over 90% are burned in open air or discharged into rivers and oceans in order to dispose of them. This review examines the energetic potential of agricultural residues, focused on rice husk. The review describes direct combustion and fast pyrolysis technologies to transform rice husk into energy considering its physical and chemical properties. In addition, a review of existing studies analyzing these technologies from an environmental life cycle thinking perspective, contributing to their sustainable use, is performed.
authors.affiliation: Peruvian LCA Network, Department of Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, Avenida Universitaria 1801, San Miguel, Lima 32, Peru; Scientific and Technological Bioresources Nucleus, University of La Frontera, P.O. Box 54-D, Temuco, Chile. Electronic address: iquispe@pucp.edu.pe.
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Quispe
authors.affiliation: Scientific and Technological Bioresources Nucleus, University of La Frontera, P.O. Box 54-D, Temuco, Chile; Department of Chemical Engineering, University of La Frontera, P.O. Box 54-D, Temuco, Chile; Centre for Biotechnology & Bioengineering (CeBiB), University of La Frontera, P.O. Box 54-D, Temuco, Chile.
authors.forename: Rodrigo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Navia
authors.affiliation: Peruvian LCA Network, Department of Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, Avenida Universitaria 1801, San Miguel, Lima 32, Peru.
authors.forename: Ramzy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kahhat
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture / Q000379:methods*; D002606:Charcoal; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D004736:Energy-Generating Resources; D004777:Environment; D058735:Environmental Policy; D005740:Gases; D006358:Hot Temperature; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D012275:Oryza / Q000737:chemistry*; D012037:Refuse Disposal / Q000379:methods*; D031786:Saccharum; D062611:Solid Waste / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D005740:Gases; D062611:Solid Waste; C540010:biochar; D002606:Charcoal
keywords: Agricultural residues; Direct combustion; Environmental analysis; Life cycle assessment; Rice husk