Catalytic torrefaction of Leucaena Leucocephala in fixed bed reactor

Abstract

In this study, non-catalytic and catalytic torrefaction of Leucaena Leucocephala was performed in fixed bed reactor under nitrogen environment at different temperature of 200-300 for 20 minutes. The effect of torrefaction condition and temperature on the mass yield and chemical properties such as proximate and correlated ultimate analysis were studied. The results of mass yield showed that mass yield decreased upon increasing of torrefaction temperature. This could be due to the contribution of moisture removal at increasing torrefaction temperature. The proximate analysis which comprises of moisture content, volatile matter, fixed carbon and ash content showed the same trend in both non-catalytic and catalytic torrefaction. The volatile matter decreased while fixed carbon and ash content increased as temperature increase. The ultimate analysis showed the percentage of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen presence in the torrefied Leucaena Leucocephala. The higher heating value calculated by using correlation equation showed that both non-catalytic and catalytic having the higher heating value of 18.28 MJ/kg and 17.50 MJ/kg at torrefaction temperature of 280 respectively. The kinetic study was analyzed by Coats-Redfern method which showed that activation energy value of non-catalytic and catalytic of Leucaena Leucocephala was 50.50 kJ/mol and 52.51 kJ/mol respectively that indicated the activation energy for catalytic torrefaction was higher than non-catalytic torrefaction.