Structural Transformation of Agricultural Waste/Coke Blends and Their Implications during High Temperature Processes

Abstract

With a sharp increase in demand and production, palm oil wastes, (i.e. empty fruit bunches, fibre and shells) are generated, out of which a large amount ends up in landfill. In such a context, alternative solutions are needed to reduce the impact of these agricultural wastes on the environment. The present paper investigates the effect of addition of agricultural waste materials on the combustion behavior of its blends with metallurgical coke (MC). Two types of agricultural waste materials, palm shell and coconut shell, were mixed in different proportion with MC, while the gas phase reactions were studied at 1 200°C in a drop tube furnace (DTF). In the tested conditions, the blends containing agricultural waste materials indicated higher combustion efficiencies compared to MC alone. Carbon structure analysis were performed through 13 CP/MAS NMR spectroscopy showing various groups of carbons present in the agricultural waste samples ranging from aliphatic to aromatic carbons. The morphology of the samples was studied through Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). SEM provided a qualitative description of the pore structure in the raw samples as well as the changes occurring following the gas phase reactions in the DTF. It was found that the particles derived from the wastes became increasingly deformed and lost their cell lumen. Surface area measurements were found to be in good agreement with the SEM images, supporting the higher combustion efficiency of the blends in comparison to coke alone. The present study suggests that agricultural waste materials have the potential to partially replace MC, as an auxiliary fuel in metallurgical processes.

Influence of Recycled Wastes on Slag Foaming during EAF Steelmaking

“…Analyses of the volume changed during slag/carbon interaction (volume ratio, V t /V 0 ) were presented in Figures 2 and 3 Polymeric and agricultural waste as the carbon resources reacted with slag where interaction occurring at the interfacial substrate may influenced by the level of hydrogen content in material that affected the reactivity. High level of hydrogen content enhanced the reactivity performance [2,11,13,14]. According to Table 1 and Figure 2, HDPE, rubber and palm char were richer hydrogen content compared to coke.…”

Enhanced compatibility between coconut fibers/PP via chemical modification for 3D printing

“…In the untreated fibers spectra, the typical carbons of cellulose are detected [22]: the peak at 65 ppm is attributed to the C-6; the peaks at 72-75 ppm are attributed to the C-2, C-3 and C-5; the peaks at 82-88 ppm are attributed to the C-4; and the peak at 105 ppm is attributed to the C-1. In addition, the typical peaks of hemicelluloses and lignin are revealed [23]: the peaks at 20 and 173 ppm are attributed to the acetyl methyl and carbonyl groups of hemicelluloses, respectively. Likewise, the peak at 55 ppm is attributed to the methoxy groups; the peaks in the region of 135 ppm are attributed to syringyl C-1, syringyl C-5 and quaiacyl C-2; and the peak at 153 ppm is attributed to syringyl C-3 and syringyl C-5 of lignin.…”