Development and Evaluation of a Laboratory-scale Pyrolysis Reactor for Bio-oil Production
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Abstract
Biomass pyrolysis is gaining interest as a renewable energy conversion pathway that valorizes agricultural residues while mitigating environmental hazards from open burning. This study aimed to design and fabricate a batch-fed laboratory-scale biomass pyrolysis reactor and evaluate its technical performance for bio-oil production using rice straw as feedstock. A split-plot experiment in a completely randomized design was employed, varying reactor insulation thickness (25, 50, and 75 mm), pyrolysis temperature (400°C, 450°C, and 500°C), and biomass loading density (60, 90, and 120 kg/m³). Analysis of variance and Scheffe’s test were used to determine significant differences among treatments. Biomass loading density, pyrolysis temperature, and insulation thickness each had a significant effect on bio-oil production, whereas all two-way and three-way interactions were not significant. The combination of 25 mm insulation, 450°C pyrolysis temperature, and 90 kg/m³ loading density yielded the highest mean bio-oil (78.07 g, 76.74 g, and 73.26 g, respectively). The developed reactor demonstrated temperature stability and operational integrity at 400°C–500°C. The reactor is a viable tool for biomass pyrolysis, and the established standard operating procedure provides a useful guide for optimizing bio-oil and bio-char production from various biomass types.
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