Physical and Thermo-Chemical Characteristics of Bio-fuels from Biomass

Proper understanding on the thermo chemical properties of biomass is necessary for the design of thermo-chemical conversion systems. The present study was conducted for the selected species of Bangladeshi biomasses. In this study seven different types of Biomass from Bangladeshi agriculture residues such as rice husk, rice straw, jute stick, sugarcane bagasse, water hyacinth, dhaincha (Sesbania aculeata) and heat straw were considered for detailed analysis. The analysis includes moisture content, bulk density, proximate analysis, elemental analysis, calorific values and thermo-gravimetric (TGA/DTG) properties. This study reports that the moisture content in all samples investigated is suitable to serve as feedstock for thermal conversion technologies. Compared to coal, agricultural residues biomass has a lower energy density and also lower ash content. Results from proximate analysis and TG-DTG curve also indicates that higher amount of ash content in rice straw and rice husk among the studied samples and highest decomposition rate is obtained from rice husk but lowest from water hyacinth. Highest activation energy was obtained from rice straw and lowest from sugarcane bagasse.