Co-Pyrolysis of Wheat Straw and Waste Tires in Fixed-Bed Reactor

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of addition of waste tire (WT) to wheat straw (WS) pyrolysis feedstock on consequent liquid yield quality and quantity. Samples of WS, WT and different blend ratios of the two wastes were fed to a fixed bed reactor. Reactor temperature was increased at 20°C/min up to 500°C as suggested by the thermogravimetric analysis of the feedstock. Nitrogen was used as sweeping gas. WS/WT 2:3 produced maximum liquid yield and its organic phase along with pyrolysis oils of WS and WT were further analyzed by GC-MS, FTIR, elemental analyzer and calorific value besides other physico-chemical properties. Addition of WT increased the calorific value (from 23.3 to 40.7 MJ/kg), carbon (58 to 85%) and hydrogen (8.6 to 9.6%) content and decreased oxygen content (from 32.8 to 5.1%) of the co-pyrolysis oil as compared to that of WS. Co-pyrolysis oil was also found to be more stable with significantly lesser proportion of aldehydes. Addition of WT to WS pyrolysis feedstock decreased the further fuel processing requirements to convert liquid yield into usable fuel, thus proved the co-pyrolysis as more favorable option for the management of the two waste types.