The Influences of K_2CO_3 and ZnO on the Major Products Obtained from the Plasma Torch Pyrolysis of Sunflower-oil Cake

摘要

This study examined the feasibility and operation performance of plasma torch pyrolysis of biomass wastes using inexpensive additives, taking sunflower-oil cake as the target material. It was the biomass waste from the production process of bio-diesel using sunflower seed. In this study, a 60 kW plasma torch reactor was used for the pyrolysis of the sunflower-oil cake investigating the influences of using inexpensive and non-harmful additives on the possible improvement of the products. The additives employed include K_2CO_3 and ZnO with the different adding percentages. The addition of ZnO increases the product of H_2 while decreases that of CO obviously. However, the addition of K_2CO_3 decreases the product of H_2 while increases that of CO inversely. Compared to the case without additive, the production of CH_4 with 5 wt.% K_2CO_3 increases 17.25 times. Therefore, it points out that the additive of K_2CO_3 enhances the production of CH_4 dramatically. One can reuse the waste as additive from the adsorption process of K_2O with CO_2 for the greenhouse gas control and produce the fuel of CO and CH_4 using the plasma pyrolysis process. All this information is useful not only to the proper operation of a plasma torch pyrolysis system but also to the better utilization of agricultural waste, such as sunflower-oil cake.