Determination of Optimum Condition for The Production of Rice Husk-Derived Bio-Oil by Slow Pyrolysis Process

This research study focuses on production of bio-oil through slow pyrolysis of
rice husk (RH) by varying heating rates while maintaining other reaction parameters:
Feedstock size, reaction temperature and nitrogen flow rate (carrier gas). The
optimum reaction condition for the slow pyrolysis of husk (RH) giving the
maximum liquid yield is found to be slow pyrolysis at heating rate of 20 °C/min,
feedstock size of 0.25-0.50 mm, reaction temperature of 500 °C and nitrogen flow
rate of 100 ml/min. Highest average liquid yield of bio-oil obtained is 35.38 wt%.
The bio-oil produced at the optimum condition is also characterized and found that it
basically has higher pH, viscosity, density value, elemental compositions and higher
estimated HHV compared to bio-oil produced at other heating rates. GC-MS analysis
proved that bio-oil produced at heating rate of 20 °C/min has more aldehydes, acids,
ketones and phenol compounds.