Energy recovery potential and characterization studies of sawdust and rice husk
Anjireddy Bhavanam1,* and R.C.Sastry2
1, 2, Department of Chemical Engineering, National Institute of Technology Warangal-506004, A.P, Indiae-mail:anjireddy.bhavanam@gmail.com; Ph.: 91-9848932241

Abstract
In this study the thermal decomposition of Sawdust and Rice husk were analyzed using Thermogravimetric analysis in N2
atmospheres at a heating rate of 40oC/min.The results showed that the weight loss occur in two stages for both thebiomasses, where the devolatization reaction occurs around100 to 260oC and final decomposition was occur during 300
to 1000oC.The lower heating values of the sawdust and rice husk are 4400 and 3450 Kcal/kg.Further in this paper thesebiomasses are compared with the other biomasses in the literature for energy recovery potential as feedstock tothermochemical conversion process like gasification which is an efficient and eco-friendly process.

Keywords: Sawdust, Rice husk, Thermogravimetry

A new renewable source of energy is all around us just
waiting to be capitalized upon. Biomass plant material,
vegetation, chipped wood,Sawdust and agricultural
waste is a permanent natural resource in a country likeindia where agriculture was the primary source.In this lotof waste was produced in the agriculture which is having
high energy value.From this waste we can recoverenergy which can meet the energy crisis,mainly in therural areas where there was no electricity up to now.This
helps in the decentralised supply of power to theseareas.

Materials and Methods
Sawdust and rice husk selected for this study was heatedto around 105oC to remove the moisture to and then it
was grounded to less than 250 micron size for using it
analysis in Thermogravimetric analyzer and also forproximate and ultimate analysis. Finally the Differential
scanning calorimetry was used for knowing the heatingvalues.

Results

6.00

5.00

Start

41.39CEnd

258.26C

Weight Loss

-0.560mg-8.307%Start

258.26C

End

979.54C

Weight Loss

-4.580mg-67.942%2.00

400.00600.00Temp [C]800.0056.37CEnd

275.97C

Weight Loss

-1.133mg-7.984%Start

275.97C

End

931.46C

Weight Loss

-8.931mg-62.934%0.00

200.00400.00600.00Temp [C]800.001000.00

Figure.2.TGA curve for ricehusk at a heating rate of40oC/min in N2 atmosphere.
Table.1. Ultimate analysis of Sawdust and rice husk inWt.%
Biomass
SawdustRice husk

C33.0
37.1

H
4.30
5.0

O
25.00
31.23

N
0.50
0.43

S
0.32
0.19

Table.2. Proximate analysis of Sawdust and rice husk inWt. %Moisturecontent
6.5
5.9

Ash
21.0
3.5

Volatile
matter
59.0
75

Fixed
Carbon
15.1
15.9

LHV
Kcal/kg
4400
3450

Conclusions

3.00

200.00

Start

5.00

SawdustRicehusk

Ch2 SAW Dust 13-46 2013-02-28.tadTGA

0.00

10.00

BiomassTGAmg
7.00

4.00

Ch2 Rice Husk 13-16 2013-03-01.tad TGA

TGAmg

Introduction

1000.00

Figure.1.TGA curve for sawdust at a heating rate of40oC/min in N2 atmosphere.

The thermogravimetric analysis was done with the twobiomasses and it was observed that the devolatization
was occurred around 100 to 260oC f and the further
decomposition was occurred at 300 to 1000oC for boththe biomasses. The heating values obtained are 4400
and 3450 kcal/kg of sawdust and rice husk respectively.

7th International Symposium on Feedstock Recycling of Polymeric Materials (7th ISFR 2013)
New Delhi, India, 23-26 October 2013

References[1] ZhiYi Lai, XiaoQian Ma, YuTing Tang, Hai LinA. FuelProcessing Technology 102 (2012) 18–23.
[2] Ajay Kumar, Lijun Wang, Yuris A. Dzenis, David D.
Jones, Milford A. Hanna. Biomass and Bioenergy 32 (2008) 460-467.

7th International Symposium on Feedstock Recycling of Polymeric Materials (7th ISFR 2013)
New Delhi, India, 23-26 October 2013