Experimental investigations of bio-syngas production using microwave pyrolysis of UAE’S palm date seed pits

Abstract

Energy has been essential for the human society, and since the 1700s, the growing need for energy has outstripped the available sources owing to social development and increased use of machines. Biomass as a renewable resource of energy has attracted current research interest. Thermochemical conversion of waste biomass into bio-syngas supports energy needs and provides a better solution for waste management as the economic appraisal of any nation depends on the available energy. In this paper, microwave pyrolysis of the most abundant agricultural waste found in UAE, the Allig date seed pits, is evaluated for bio-syngas production. A full factorial parametric study was performed based on different particle sizes, microwave powers and moisture contents. The syngas yield and the pyrolysis temperature were experimentally analyzed. The experimental result revealed that the maximum bio-syngas was attained at a1000W microwave power, 467 μm particle size and a dry sample, which were producing CH4 and CO bio-gas yield with 21 vol% and 15 vol% respectively. Hence, Allig date seed pits as a biomass in the microwave pyrolysis process may be a promising source of sustainable power for industrial and consumer applications. Keywords Microwave pyrolysis, Allig date seed pits, TGA, Bio-syngas yield, Hot gas efficiency