doiSerbia

Pyrolysis of corn stalks: The potential of using bio-oil as a fuel

Isailović Jelena (University of Belgrade, Faculty of Agriculture, Zemun, Serbia), jelena.isailovic@agrif.bg.ac.rs
Vukićević Еmilija (University of Belgrade, Faculty of Chemistry, Belgrade, Serbia)
Antić Mališa (University of Belgrade, Faculty of Agriculture, Zemun, Serbia)
Schwarzbauer Jan (Institute for Geology and Geochemistry of Petroleum and Coal, RWTH, Aachen, Germany)
Ignjatović Ljubiša (University of Belgrade, Faculty of Physical Chemistry, Belgrade, Serbia)
Gajica Gordana (Institute of Chemistry, Technology and Metallurgy, National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia)
Antić Vesna (University of Belgrade, Faculty of Agriculture, Zemun, Serbia)

Due to the increasing consumption of fossil fuels, there is a growing demand for renewable energy resources. At the same time, a significant amount of agricultural waste accumulates, including corn residues, and efficient management of this waste is a challenge. In this work, the waste biomass, which consisted of the stalks of two types of corn, was characterized and subjected to the pyrolysis process at 400°C. Physicochemical characterization of the obtained liquid fraction (bio-oil) was performed, and the obtained data were compared with literature data for liquid biofuel. The calorific value of bio-oil was above 22 MJ kg-1, which indicates the good potential of waste corn biomass as an energy source. With appropriate further changes in the composition of waste, by adding materials with a higher carbon and hydrogen content, corn stalks can represent a significant energy source, with better regulation of disposal and storage of agricultural waste.

Keywords: agricultural biomass, pyrolysis process, physico-chemical properties, liquid fraction