Transforming corn stover to useful transport fuel blends in resource-limited settings

Nicholas Munu; Noble Banadda; Nicholas Kiggundu; Ahamada Zziwa; Isa Kabenge; Jeffrey Seay; Robert Kambugu; Joshua Wanyama; Albrecht Schmidt

Energy Reports (Nov 2021)

Transforming corn stover to useful transport fuel blends in resource-limited settings

Nicholas Munu,
Noble Banadda,
Nicholas Kiggundu,
Ahamada Zziwa,
Isa Kabenge,
Jeffrey Seay,
Robert Kambugu,
Joshua Wanyama,
Albrecht Schmidt

Affiliations

Nicholas Munu: Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda; Department of Crop Production and Management, Busitema University, Arapai Campus, P.O. Box 203, Soroti, Uganda; Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ndejje University, P.O. Box 7088, Kampala, Uganda; Corresponding author at: Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda.
Noble Banadda: Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda; Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Iowa State University, 1340 Elings Hall, Ames, IA 50011 – 3270, USA
Nicholas Kiggundu: Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda
Ahamada Zziwa: Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda
Isa Kabenge: Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda
Jeffrey Seay: Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda; Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Kentucky, Paducah, KY 42002, USA
Robert Kambugu: Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda
Joshua Wanyama: Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda
Albrecht Schmidt: Christliche Fachkräfte International, Wächterstraße 3, 70182 Stuttgart, Germany; Energy Research & Development Centre, Ndejje University, P.O. Box 7088, Kampala, Uganda

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 7
pp. 1256 – 1266

Abstract

Read online

Development of local technologies is crucial to the sustainable energy agenda in resource-limited countries and the world. Strengthening local green technologies and promoting local utilization will reduce carbon emissions that could be generated during transportation and delivery of green products from one country to another. In this paper we developed bio-oil/diesel blends using a low-tech pyrolysis system designed for smallholder farmers in developing countries and tested their appropriateness for diesel engines using standard ASTM methods. Corn stover retrieved from smallholder farmers in Gayaza, Uganda were pyrolyzed in a batch rocket stove reactor at 350 °C and liquid bio-oil harvested. Bio-oil chemical composition was analyzed by Gas Chromatography equipped with Flame Ionization Detector (GC-FID). Bio-oil/diesel emulsions in ternary concentrations 5%, 10% and 20% bio-oil weight were developed with 1% concentration of sorbitan monolaurate as an emulsifier. The bio-oil/diesel emulsions and distillates had property ranges: specific gravities at 15 °C 827.4–830.7 kg m−3, specific gravities at 20 °C 823.9–827.2 kg m −3, kinematic viscosities at 40 °C 3.01–3.22 mm2/s, initial boiling points 140–160 °C, final boiling points 354–368 °C, and calculated cetane indexes 56.80–57.63. These properties of the bio-oil/diesel blends and their distillates compare well with standard transportation diesel fuel. The emulsion distillates meet the standard requirements for automotive diesel in East Africa.

Published in Energy Reports

ISSN: 2352-4847 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Technology: Electrical engineering. Electronics. Nuclear engineering
Website: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/energy-reports/

About the journal

Abstract

Keywords