Pyrolysis of tobacco factory waste biomass

Abstract

Tobacco waste is one of the main industrial agricultural wastes. In this study, potential of pyrolysis process for valorization of this type of biomass waste was investigated based on thermogravimetirc analysis. Thermogravimetric analysis of the tobacco waste material was carried out at different heating rates (5, 10, 20, 40 degrees C min(-1)) by heating from room temperature to 900 degrees C in an inert nitrogen atmosphere. The main decomposition occurred approximately between temperatures 150 and 390 degrees C. Pyrolysis kinetic was investigated by the DAEM method to determine kinetic parameters (activation energy and frequency factor) by using thermogravimetric data. Activation energy (E) and the frequency factor (k(0)) were ranging from 280.38 to 201.96 kJ mol(-1) and 2.45E+14 to 8.19E+25 s(-1), respectively. The evolved gaseous products were investigated by using the TG-FTIR technique, and effect of temperature and heating rate on products was examined. Characterization of the bio-oil obtained from pyrolysis of the tobacco waste in the fixed-bed reactor was carried out using FT-IR, GC-MS and H-1-NMR techniques. According to GC-MS results, bio-oil consists mainly of nicotine (26.78%), phenol (8.02%) and limonene (4.59%) compounds. GC-MS, FT-IR and H-1-NMR results were consistent with each other.