Physicochemistry and Utilization of Wood Vinegar from Carbonization of Tropical Biomass Waste

Abstract

Pyroligneous acid also called wood vinegar is an aqueous liquid produced from pyrolysis of lignocellulose waste and biomass. In general, the pyrolysis types are classified base on heating rate mainly either fast or slow pyrolysis. The characteristic and properties of wood vinegar are primarily influenced by the type of carbonaceous feedstocks as well as the production techniques. Wood vinegar is a complex mixture of polar and non-polar chemicals with various molecular weights and compositions. Its major constituent is water (80 – 90%). Some physical properties; such as pH, specific gravity, dissolved tar content are, respectively, within the range of 2 – 4, 1.005 – 1.016 g/mL, 0.23 – 0.89% wt, and color, odor and transparency have been reported. In addition, the degree of o Brix was ranged between 1.7 and 6.6. Besides water, the chemical compositions of wood vinegars consisted of acetic acid with the largest component (30.45 – 70.60 mg.mL (cid:1) 1 ). A high number of phenol derivatives have been found and those in higher concentrations were 4-propyl-2-methoxyphenol (5 – 11 mg.mL (cid:1) 1 ) followed by 2-methylphenol (2 – 4 mg.mL (cid:1) 1 ). Wood vinegar has been regarded as a natural product, which claimed to be capable in several fields of application. In agriculture, wood vinegar has been used in vegetable cropping in order to combat disease, pest control, improve growth and fruit quality, seed germination accelerator