Estimation of Energy Potential for Solid Pyrolysis By-Products Using Analytical Methods

Abstract

Waste can be converted into energy and value-added products by thermochemical processes. Pyrolysis represents the thermal degradation of the material under a non-oxidant atmosphere leading to generation of three products: charsolid, oil-liquid and pyrolysis gas. Pyrolysis process means a complex mechanism of reactions, endothermic and/or exothermic chemical reactions that occurs simultaneously and/or subsequently. The use of lignocellulosic and plastic waste for energy purposes leads to the production of solids that could replace much of the conventional fuels once energy conversion technologies will prove profitable. In this chapter the authors proposed to describe, analyze and apply analytical methods for the heating value estimation of the solid products generated by pyrolysis of different wood and plastic materials. Our results obtained by experimental studies and empirical formulas will be evaluated and compared. The impact of the thermochemical process operational conditions on the variation of chars and biochars heating value will be also discussed in this chapter.

Recycling of Wastes Plastics and Tires from Automotive Industry

“…According to many researchers [ 34 , 35 , 36 ], the calorific value of plastics is around 40 MJ/kg, which is comparable to fuels. The high calorific value is due to the high content of carbone (70%-PP and 80%-PE) and hydrogen (9–12%-PP, PE), and low ash content [ 34 , 37 , 38 ]. Higher values are observed only for natural gas (48 MJ/kg) and heating oil (43 MJ/kg) [ 34 ].…”

“…There are differences between calorific value of many materials. For example, coal has this value about 28 MJ/kg [ 34 ]; paper 14–17 MJ/kg [ 33 , 34 , 38 ] and paper sludge 5.7–7.8 MJ/kg [ 33 ], because of very high inorganic content (42–52%); tetrapacks 17.7–22.3 MJ/kg depend on the presence of PE foil (22.3 MJ/kg with foil) [ 33 ]; rubber 22.2 MJ/kg [ 38 ]; leather 19 MJ/kg [ 37 ]; textile 17.5 KJ/kg [ 38 ] and wood from 16.5 to 23 MJ/kg depending on the lignin and extractive content of the material [ 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 ].…”

Gas yield variation in wood biomass co-current air gasification process – continuous operation

“…To assure the partial oxidation of the feedstock the Equivalent Ratio (ER) was calculated: (1) [22] The calculations were done based on the elemental composition of the feedstock used for the air required for theoretically complete combustion (stoichiometric) determination. The cherry wood residues elemental composition expressed in percentage [%], used in the aforementioned determination was : C-49.52, H-5.81, O-42.97, N-0.31,S-0.02, Cl-0.02, Ash-1,35, Moisture-0 [23]. Cheery wood ultimate analysis is similar to other types of woody biomass, according to a study based on 95 different literature sources, regarding the ultimate analysis of woody biomass.…”