Pyrolysis of Sorghum straw: Effect of temperature and reaction environment on the product behavior

Abstract

Sorghum straw is a massively produced agricultural waste in India. Thermochemical conversion can be used to convert this waste into the useful chemicals. This paper illustrates the production of valuable hydrocarbon via slow pyrolysis of sorghum straw biomass in a bench-scale reactor in N2 and CO2 environments. The pyrolysis experiments were conducted at the temperatures of 300, 350, 400, and 450ºC, and atmospheric pressures. The objective of the work was to analyze the effect of temperature and reaction environment on the product behavior. The organic phase of the bio-oil was found to be mainly composed of phenols, furans, and ketones. Maximum yield of bio-oil was obtained at 350°C for N2 environment, and at 400°C for CO2 environment. The bio-oil obtained in CO2 environment was found to be more abundant in phenols and furans, while being relatively leaner in ketone group compounds in comparison to that obtained in the N2 environment.