Elucidating the pyrolysis properties of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) biomass and characterisation of its pyrolysis products

Abstract

Water hyacinth is classified as a high-risk invasive species but is a source of biomass to obtain bio-oil and biochar by pyrolysis reaction. The Kissinger- Akahira-Sunose model (KAS), Ozawa-Flynn Wall (OFW), and Friedman model, determined the pyrolysis activation energy to be 213.19 kJ mol−1, 222.55 kJ mol−1, and 248.09 kJ mol−1, respectively. Bio-oil was obtained with a 2.2% yield, and a maximum calorific value of 21,641 kJ kg−1. The composition was 44% hydrocarbons, 27% aromatic hydrocarbons, 6% alcohols and phenols, 4% acids, and 19% aldehydes, ketones, ethers, nitriles, and others. A 48.84 wt% biochar was also obtained, gaining energy and active carbon. Bio-oil could be a candidate for the production of refined chemical products.

Keywords

• water hyacinth
• bio-oil
• biochar
• pyrolysis
• biomass