Tag Archives: pyrolysis

xxx R.M. Lozano-Reátegui, V. Asencios-Tarazona, I.O. Ruiz-Yance, M.R. Guerrero-Ochoa, W. Pinedo-Chambi and M.M. Mendoza-Carlos
Adsorbent potential of cocoa pod husk activated charcoal to remove metals from the Ucayali River
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Adsorbent potential of cocoa pod husk activated charcoal to remove metals from the Ucayali River

R.M. Lozano-Reátegui¹*, V. Asencios-Tarazona¹, I.O. Ruiz-Yance¹, M.R. Guerrero-Ochoa¹, W. Pinedo-Chambi¹ and M.M. Mendoza-Carlos²

¹National Intercultural University of the Amazon, Faculty of Engineering and Environmental Sciences, Academic Department of Agro Industrial Engineering, Pucallpa, 25000 Ucayali, Peru
²National Intercultural University of the Amazon, Faculty of Engineering and Environmental Sciences, Academic Department of Basic Sciences, Pucallpa, 25000 Ucayali, Peru
*Correspondence: rlozanor@unia.edu.pe

Abstract:

The problem of river water contamination due to the presence of dangerous metals for ichthyological flora and fauna and human health has motivated the search for innovative and feasible solutions. Therefore, the production of activated carbon from cocoa pod husks was investigated to eliminate metals present in the Ucayali River. Response surface methodology was used to optimize the manufacturing of the adsorbent and test its effectiveness in removing metals from water using a factorial design of 33 and 32, with three replicates each. The optimal amount of activated carbon (18.41 g) was obtained from 200 g of fresh cocoa pod husks. It was converted into activated carbon under the following conditions: thermal modification at 100, 150, and 200 °C; activation time of 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 h; and pyrolysis and activation at 400, 500, and 600 °C. This allowed the elimination by efficient adsorption of 56.8% Fe2+, 68.4% Al3+, 65.9% Cu2+, and 55.5% Zn2+ from Ucayali River, thus demonstrating its adsorbent power. The results will make it possible to manufacture filters to decontaminate water containing heavy metals, thus guaranteeing its consumption.

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2306–2316 D. Kunecová and P. Hlaváč
Determination of activation energy of the pellets and sawdust using thermal analysis
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Determination of activation energy of the pellets and sawdust using thermal analysis

D. Kunecová and P. Hlaváč

Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Faculty of Engineering, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, SK-949 76 Nitra, Slovak Republic
Correspondence: kunecova@uniag.sk; peter.hlavac@uniag.sk

Abstract:

The aim of this study is to describe the thermophysical properties of pellets and sawdust. Samples were chosen with regard to sustainability and environmental friendliness of materials. The main object of this paper was the investigation of thermal degradation of selected samples. Industrial pellets from Slovakia and sawdust from household source were compared. Materials suitable for pyrolysis are organic materials that degrade at increased temperature. Cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin are main components of biomass (wood) in varying proportions. Thermal processes were carried out from 25 °C to 850 °C using inert nitrogen atmosphere. Heating rate was linear from 5 °C min-1, 10 °C min-1 to 20 °C min-1. Mass decrease to 150 °C corresponds to release of water and other lighter unbound hydrocarbons. Samples lose 6–8% of their mass due to the temperature. At main decrease the mass loss was between 62% and 69%. In some cases this decrease is in two drops that end at the temperature around 500 °C. Pyrolysis can be considered to consist of independent parallel reactions. In order to make theoretical groundwork for biomass pyrolysis available, activation energies were calculated with the help of two kinetic models (Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose and Flynn-Wall-Ozawa model). The residuals from pyrolysed samples are determined and temperature dependent profiles of the materials were obtained.

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