Effect of Pyrolysis Temperature on the Physicochemical and Combustion Properties of Desert Date (Balanite Aegyptiaca) Bio-Char Briquette

The depletion in fossil fuels usage requires a replacement to a sustainable bio-fuels source. This research investigated the yield of three kinds of products of the fast pyrolysis of desert date shell in a fabricated fixed bed reactor by varying the pyrolysis temperature from 500 to 800 °C. The purpose of the experiment was to produce briquettes from the bio-chars bonded with cassava starch and gum arabic. The physicochemical properties of briquettes were characterized using ASTM and DIN stan dards while the calorific values and the fuel properties such as ignition time, boiling time, cooking efficiency and fuel efficiency were determined. The maximum yield of pyrolysis liquid was obtained around 49.08 wt% as pyrolysis temperature reached 600 °C and the highest yield of gases was obtained at 23.20 wt% at 800 °C . Maximum yield of char was obtained at 500 °C around 48.20 wt% and started to decrease as temperature increases. All the properties investigated showed that starch bonded briquettes have better physicochemical and fuel qualities than the gum arabic bonded briquettes. It was observed that the best starch bonded briquettes were obtained at 800 o C temperature range while the best gum arabic bonded briquette was obtained at 800 °C temperature range. It was observed that the briquettes produced from pyrolysis derived biochar have great potential as an alternative solid fuel.