Co-pyrolysis of rice husk and polystyrene waste mixtures to synthesis liquid fuel

Abstract

Rice husks are one of the agricultural residues which abundant in Malaysia especially in the states of Kedah, Kelantan, Perlis and Selangor during production of rice in the milling factory. Polystyrene is a widely used plastic and a petrochemical based material which does not break down in landfill area. The objective of this project is to investigate the parameters of pyrolysis for co-pyrolysis of rice husk and polystyrene waste. Other than that, the other project’s objectives are to determine the optimum ratio of mixtures between rice husk and polystyrene waste and to evaluate the characteristics of liquid fuel. Rice husk and polystyrene waste were combined together to obtain bio-oil through pyrolysis process. The bio-oil produced from mixtures of rice husk and polystyrene waste also potentially can be used as fuel. The parameters were used for this study are ratios of mixture, temperature, particle sizes and holding time. The variation of pyrolysis ratios of mixture and temperature are 100:0, 80:20, 70:30, 60:40, 50:50, 40:60 and 350°C, 400°C, 450°C, 500°C and 550°C respectively. The particle sizes were varied at 600μm, 425μm, 300μm and 212μm while the holding time was set up from 2, 4, 6 and 8 minutes. Every parameter has their range point to test for obtaining maximum production of bio-oil. Highest yield of bio-oil was obtained on a rice husk/polystyrene waste of 70:30, temperature of 450°C, particle size of 300μm and holding time of 2 minutes. The bio-oil was characterized by FTIR and GCMS. From characterization of product, the results of bio-oil from combination between rice husk and polystyrene proved that the hydrocarbons become increased and the content of acid was lower. The bio-oil in FTIR majority consisted of aliphatic and aromatic amines.