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ARS Home » Southeast Area » New Orleans, Louisiana » Southern Regional Research Center » Commodity Utilization Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #221191
Title: Pyrolysis of Broiler Manure: Char and Product Gas Characterization

Author
item Lima, Isabel
item Boateng, Akwasi
item Klasson, K Thomas

Submitted to: Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/4/2008
Publication Date: 12/19/2008
Citation: Lima, I.M., Boateng, A.A., Klasson, K.T. 2009. Pyrolysis of Broiler Manure: Char and Product Gas Characterization. Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research. 48(3):1292-1297.

Interpretive Summary: Value-added materials produced from broiler litter can be a renewable alternative to its problematic disposal. Pyrolysis of broiler litter produces three by-products, char, bio-oil and bio-gas. Pyrolytic products or chars are low porosity, low surface area materials that are intermediate products in the development of activated carbons. In this study, chars from broiler litter and cake were produced and characterized for their ability to adsorb selected metal ions and the bio-gas generated was characterized for its energy potential. The major components of the non-condensable gas produced during pyrolysis of broiler litter and cake, included CO, CO2, low molecular weight hydrocarbon gases and H2.

Technical Abstract: Value-added materials produced from broiler litter can be a renewable alternative to its problematic disposal. Pyrolysis of broiler litter produces three by-products, char, bio-oil and bio-gas. Pyrolytic products or chars are low porosity, low surface area materials that are intermediate products in the development of activated carbons. In this study chars from broiler litter and cake were produced and characterized for their ability to adsorb selected metal ions. Pelletized broiler litter and cake were pyrolyzed at two different temperatures 700 and 800 °C for 1 hour under an inert atmosphere. Char yields for broiler litter and cake were 30.4% and 33.5% and 29.6 and 32.5%, respectively at 700° and 800°C. Surface areas for the broiler litter and cake decreased with pyrolysis temperature with 238 and 318 m2/g and 199 and 261 m2/g for 700 and 800 °C, respectively. Adsorption experiments revealed that broiler manure chars removed significantly more metal ions from solution (up to 0.91 mmoles/g Cu2+ and 0.96 mmoles/g Zn2+) when compared to chars produced from coal, wood or coconut shells (up to 0.0 mmoles/g Cu2+ and 0.10 mmoles/g Zn2+). Non-condensable gas or bio-gas generated during pyrolysis can be used for its energy potential. In this study, biogas composition was determined as well. The major components of the non-condensable gas produced during pyrolysis of broiler litter and cake, included CO, CO2, low molecular weight hydrocarbon gases and H2.