Balanites aegyptiaca is known as ‘desert date’, its spiny tree widely distributed in dry land areas of Africa and Asia. It’s traditionally used in treatment of various ailments such as jaundice and intestinal worm infection. In this study it’s used to determine the energy characterization of outer shell, internal shell, and kernel of balanites aegyptiaca. By using proximate tests and heating value (higher heating value a nd lower heating value). Infrared spectroscopy (IR) was used to determine the chemical composition. It was found that the moisture content of 7.20% , 7.18% , 5.70 and volatile matter of 74.04% , 76.35% , 87.53 and ash content of 2.74% , 3.17% , 2.99% and fixed carbon of 16.02% , 13.29% , 4.31% for outer shell , internal shell and kernel respectively. With higher heating value 18.40 MJ/kg , 18.10 MJ/kg , 14.93 MJ/kg and lower heating value 18.35 MJ/kg , 18.00 MJ/kg , 14.90 MJ/kg for outer shell , internal s hell and kernel respectively. Key word : Balanites Ae gyptaica, Proximate Tests, Heating value, Infrared spectroscopy The Objectives: Determining the energetic characterization of Balanites A egyptiaca Fruit 1 1.0 Introduction 1.1 Biomass Biomass can be converted into useful energy (heat or electricity) or energy carriers (charcoal, oil or gas) by both thermochemical and biochemical conversion technologies. Biochemical conversion technologies include fermentation for alcohol production and anaerobic digestion for production of methane - enriched gas. Four thermochemical biomass conversion technologies for energy purposes exist: pyrolysis, gasification, direct combustion, and liquefaction. The primary products from these conversion technologies may be in the form of energy carriers such as charcoal, oil or gas, or as heat. Various techniques exist for the utilization of these products. Secondary products may be derived through additional processing. In principle, most of the petroleum derived chemicals cu rrently being used can be produced from biomass, but some will require rather circuitous synthesis routes. In general, the characteristics of the ideal energy crop are : • high yield (maximum production of dry matter per hectare) • low energy input to pro duce • low cost • composition with the least contaminants, • low nutrient requirements. Desired characteristics will also depend on local climate and soil conditions. Water consumption can be a major constraint in many areas of the world and makes the drou ght resistance of the crop an important factor. Other important characteristics are pest resistance and fertilizer requirements . Biomass can be converted into three main types of product: • electrical/heat energy, • transport fuel, • chemical feedstock. 2 TYPES OF BIOMASS: 1. Wood and agricultural products Most biomass used t oday is home grown energy. Wood logs, chips, bark, and sawdust accounts for about 44 percent of biomass energy. But any organic matter can produce biomass energy. Other biomass source s can include agricultural waste products like fruit pits and corncobs. Wood and wood waste are used to generate electricity. Much of the electricity is used by the industries making the waste; it is not distributed by utilities, it is a process called cog eneration. Paper mills and saw mills use much of their waste products to generate steam and electricity for their use. However, since they use so much energy, they need to buy additional electricity from utilities. 2. Solid Waste Burning trash turns waste into a usable form of energy. One ton (2,000 pounds) of garbage contains about as much heat energy as 500 pounds of coal. Garbage is not all biomass; perhaps half of its energy content comes from plastics, which are made from petroleum and natural gas. Pow er plants that burn garbage for energy are called waste - to - energy plants. These plants generate electricity much as coal - red plants do, except that combustible garbage — not coal — is the fuel used to re their boilers . 3. Landfill Gas and Biogas Bacteria and fungi are not picky eaters. They eat dead plants and animals, causing them to rot or decay. A fungus on a rotting log is converting cellulose to sugars to feed itself. Although this process is slowed in a land fi ll, a substance called methane gas is still produced as the waste decays. New regulations require land fi lls to collect methane gas for safety and environmental reasons. Methane gas is colorless and odorless, but it is not harmless. The gas can cause res or explosions if it seeps into nearby homes and is ignited. Land fi lls can collect the methane gas, purify it, and use it as fuel. Methane can also be produced using energy from agricultural and human wastes. Biogas digesters are airtight containers or pits lined with steel or bricks. Waste 3 put into the containers is fermented without oxygen to produce a methane - rich gas. This gas can be used to produce electricity, or for cooking and lighting 4. Ethanol Ethanol is an alcohol fuel (ethyl alcohol) made by fermenting the sugars and starches found i n plants and then distilling them. Any organic material containing cellulose, starch, or sugar can be made into ethanol. The majority of the ethanol produced in the United States comes from corn. New technologies are producing ethanol from cellulose in woo dy bers from trees, grasses, and crop residues. Today nearly all of the gasoline sold in the U.S. contains around 10 percent ethanol and is known as E10. In 2011, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved the introduction of E15 (15 percent ethanol, 85 percent gasoline) for use in passenger vehicles from model year 2001 and newer. Fuel containing 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline (E85) quali fi es as an alternative fuel. There are more than 10 million - fl exible fuel vehicles ( FFV) on the road that can run effi ciently on E85 or E10. However, just fewer than 10 percent of these vehicles use E85 regularly . 1.2 Balanites Aegyptaica : Balanites aegyptiaca ; known as desert date in English or Heglig and laloub in Arabic. It is one of the most important tree species in Sudan (Mainly in Western Soudan ) where it is known to have the widest natural range of distribution .[3] According to El Amin (1990) Balanites aegyptiaca belong to the family Balanitaceae and it is an armed tree 8 - 10 m high, oft en with a fluted bole (Figure1). Bark grey to dark brown with deep vertical fissures exposing the new yellow bark; spines straight, stout, rigid, up to 8 cm long, inflorescence supraxillary or subracemose; flowers yellow - green, about 1.3 cm long. Flowers N ovember – April; fruits December to July. 4 Figure1 : Blantites aegyptiaca tree at El - Obeid town, Sudan [4] Figure 2: Balanites aegyptiaca fruits The fruits of B. aegyptiaca locally known as “Lalob” are an edible fruit. The fleshy pulp of the ripe and unripe fruit is eaten dried or fresh. In western and central Sudan the fruits are collected by women, children’s and sold in the local market to provide additional income for the family especially during the dry season after cro p harvesting. B. aegyptiaca is one of the most important 5 fodder trees in western Sudan which often have a higher crude protein, minerals content and higher digestible dry matter particularly during the dry season . 2.0 Literature Review The fruits of B. aegyptiaca locally known as “Lalob” are an edible fruit. The fleshy pulp of the ripe and unripe fruit is eaten dried or fresh. In western and central Sudan the fruits are collected by women, children’s and sold in the local market to provide additional income for the family especially during the dry season after crop harvesting. B. aegyptiaca is one of the most important fodder trees in western Sudan which often have a higher crude protein, minerals content and higher digestible dry matter particularly d uring the dry season (Anon, 2004). Lazim (2007) in his investigation on composition of some fodder trees in South Kordu fan State reported that crude protein of B. aegyptiaca and Ziziphus spina - Christi could be adequate to meet the requirements of the rumi nants in the late dry season. However, B. aegyptiaca leaves and twigs seemed to be useful as protein supply to poor grass range. The antibacterial effect of B. aegyptiaca was reported by Doughari et al . (2007). He reported that organic leaves extracts of B. aegyptiaca and Moringa oleifera can be used against Salmonella typhi which causes the typhoid fever. The antibacterial activity of the extracts on S. typhi was reasonably stable when treated at 4, 30, 60 and 100 C o for one hour. The tree - crashed fruit is used as a source for the bio diesel in USA (Mordechay et al ., 2008). The wood is hard, durable, worked easily and made wooden spoons, pestles, mortars, handles, stools and combs. In Sudan the wood is used for different use such as furniture, charcoal m aking, fencing material, ornamental; shad for domestic livestock, insecticides, drugs, sand dune fixation, shelter belts and life fences. Young leaves and tender shoots are used as a vegetable, which is boiled, pounded, then fried or fat added to prepare i t. Flowers are sucked to obtain nectar. In Burkina Faso, B. aegyptiaca contributed up to 38% of the dry - matter intake of goats in the dry season. The oil remains stable when heated and has a high smoking point, and therefore its free fatty acid content is low. Its scent and taste are acceptable. Wood gum mixed with maize meal porridge is used to treat chest pains. The chemical composition of the root, stem bark, leaves, fruit pulp, seed kernel, and mesocarp of Balanites aegyptiaca has been studied by different scholars. A qualitative phytochemical analysis of the stem bark of Balanites aegyptiaca by Mutwali and Abdelgadir (2016) indicated the presence of alkaloids, tannins, triterpenoids, saponins and two biomolecules: amino Acids 6 and carbohydrates . Ba lanitin 1, 2 and 3, alkaloids and diosgenin have been isolated from the root part of the East African Balanites aegyptiaca . Diosgenin is a steroidal sapogenin (5 - spirostan - 3 - ol) compound which is very useful in pharmaceutical industries as a natural sourc e of steroidal hormones (Zarroug et al ., 1990 cited in Yadav and Panghal, 2010). The results of the study by Fregon and Shakak (2016) revealed that Balanites aegyptiaca seed contains oil, protein, fiber, carbohydrate and various minerals such as calcium, s odium, magnesium, phosphorus and potassium. The fatty acid profile of Balanites aegyptiaca seed oil also showed that it contains linoleic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid and oleic acid. The oil of Balanites aegyptiaca also contains steroids such as sapon ins, sapogenins, diosgenins, which are used as raw material for industrial production of contraceptive pills, corticoids, anabolisants and other sexual hormones (Fregon and Shakak, 2016; Mutwali and Abdelgadir, 2016). The fuel quality parameters such as the flash point and specific gravity of the Balanites aegyptiaca biodiesel are similar to those of D 2 diesel. Its biodiesel is “readily biodegradable” compared with the D 2 diesel, which is partially degradable. These sug gest that Balanites aegyptiaca seed oil is a potential source of environmentally friendly biodiesel (Jauro and Adams, 2011) . Seeds Today most of the seeds go unused, but in certain areas they are gathered in quantity. After soaking and sun drying, they can be safely stored for months. Subsequently, the kernels are extracted. Roasted, these b alanites nuts have an enticing aroma and are typically added to soups and to the various cereal products that are enjoyed in Senegal, Nigeria, Chad, Uganda, and Sudan . The Shuwa in northeastern Nigeria, for example, commonly eat them this way. And to some Shari and Chad peoples these seeds are so important they are the foundation of everyday life . Seed oil The seed’s kernel can contain up to 60 percent of almost taste less oil. Sometimes called zachon or betu oil, it is highly prized especially in Sudan. The culinary properties are comparable to those of a quality vegetable oil. In a recent market survey, for instance, consumers rated it with cottonseed oil for flavor a nd cooking qualities . Shells Every ton of whole fruit yields half a ton of woody shells. These shells are hard, dense, and highly combustible. They make good fuel as well as good charcoal and particleboard . 7 Material and Method : Material Balanites aegyptiaca fruit was divided into three parts, which are: outer shell, internal shell and kerne l/Nut and after drying each of them, the samples were grin ded and sieved as in the figures (3 , 4 &5). Figure (3 ) . Outer shell Figure (4 ). Internal shell Figure (5 ). Kernel/nut Table ( 1 ): show s the mesh size s used to sieve the samples Outer shell Internal shell Kernel/Nut MESH NO 28 36 28 MESH SIZE 495 Micron 420 Micron 495 Micron 8 Chemical composition of the samples : Figure (6): Infrared spectroscopy (IR) for outer shell 9 Table (2): shows the chemical composition for outer shell of according to figure (6) Frequency ( 1  cm ) Functional group 3502.85 3502.85 3446.91 3419.90 2924.18 2854.74 Single bond region including: N - H stretch O - H stretch C - H stretch 2359.02 2322.37 2017.61 Triple bond region: C  C C  N 1791.93 1770.71 1749.49 1734.06 1716.70 1697.41 1683.91 1653.05 1616.40 Double bond region: C=C C=O C=N 1396.51 1373.36 1361.79 1338.64 1313.57 1120.68 688.61 669.32 Single bond region C - C C - O C - N 10 Figure (7): Infrared spectroscopy (IR) for internal shell 11 Table (3): shows the chemical composition for internal shell of according to figure (7) Frequency ( 1  cm ) Functional group 3446.91 3419.90 3190.90 3198.08 3057.27 2904.89 Single bond region including: N - H stretch O - H stretch C - H stretch 2376.38 2320.44 2017.61 Triple bond region: C  C C  N 1791.93 1772.64 1749.49 1734.06 1716.70 1683.91 1670.41 1653.05 Double bond region: C=C C=O C=N 1396.51 1373.36 1361.79 1338.64 1319.35 1251.84 1165.04 1033.88 991.44 896.63 779.27 669.32 634.60 Single bond region C - C C - O C - N 12 Figure (8). Infrared spectroscopy for Kernel/Nut 13 Table (4): Shows the chemical composition for Kernel/Nut of according to figure (8) Frequency ( 1  cm ) Functional group 3462.34 3419.90 3010.98 2924.18 2854.74 Single bond region including: N - H stretch O - H stretch C - H stretch 2359.02 2198.92 2017.61 Triple bond region: C  C C  N 1791.93 1772.64 1747.57 1716.70 1697.41 1683.91 1653.05 1624.12 Double bond region: C=C C=O C=N 1396.51 1361.79 1338.64 1313.57 1288.49 1120.68 1039.67 1039.67 987.59 864.14 721.40 688.61 669.32 634.60 Single bond region C - C C - O C - N 14 Proximate Testing Proximate Testing includes testing of water content (Moisture Content), ash (Ash Content), volatile matter (Volatile Matter). This testing is conducted by heating or combusting the Biomass Powder in high temperature furnaces. Percentages of moisture contents, volatile matter and ash contents in all the parts were determined separately by following American Society of Testing Materials (ASTM) standards D3173 - 87, D 3175 - 07 and D 3174 - 04, respectively and British standards (EN 14774 - 1).The fixed carbon percentage was determined by subtracting the sum o f moisture contents, volatile matt er and ash contents from 100 . Moisture Content Test 1 g of sample ( outer shell) was entered into the Moisture Analyzer Instruments at a temperature of 130 ℃ and at a time 5.40 min The Moisture content was determined and it was 7.205% of total weight. 1 g of sample (Inner shell) was entered into the Moisture Analyzer instruments at a temperature of 130 ℃ and at a time 4.40 min The Moisture content was determined and it was 7.186% of total weight. 1 g of sample (Kernel/Nut) was entered the Moisture Analyzer Instruments at a temperature of 130 ℃ and at a time 5.30 min The Moisture content was determined and it was 5.169% of total weight. Ash Content Ash contents were calcula ted using the following Equation :   (  % ) = 100 −       ∗ 100 (1) Where: Wmd 0 is the initial weight of the sample plus crucible W is the weight of the sample and crucible after heating, WdS 0 is the weight of the biomass sample. Volatile Matter Volatile matter is important property as it indicates the ease of combustibility of the biomass. High volatile matter contents in biomass indicate ease of processing and more liquid product during the p yrolysis process. Volatile matter contents present in the samples were calculated by following the two steps. In the first step weight loss in biomass sample were calcula ted using the following equation :   (  % ) =       ∗ 100 (2) 15 Where: Wmd 0 is the weight of the sample plus crucible, W is the weight of the sample and crucible after heating WS 0 is the initial weight of the sample. Then the volatile matters were calculated by following equation:   (  % ) =   (  % ) −   (  % ) (3) Fixed Carbon Fixed carbon contents in the samples were calculated by subtracting the moisture contents, volatile matter and ash content s from 100, as in the following equation :   (  % ) = 100 − ( MOISTURE CONTENTS +   +   ) (4) Heating value, it is a measure of the amount of energy that can be released per unit mass, through an oxidation reaction. Is the characteristic probably better define the suitability of solid biomass as a fuel . Heating value is an expression of the energy content, or heat value, released w hen burnt in air. Usually measured in terms of the energy content per unit mass MJ/kg for solids. The CV of a fuel can be expressed in two forms, higher heating value (HHV) and lower heating value (LHV) . HHV & LHV can be calculated by the following equatio ns: VM ASH ASH FC FC VM HHV        9584 . 1 0234 . 0 2135 . 0 2880 . 19 (5) MC HHV LHV    443 . 2 [10] (6) 16 RESULT DISCUSION: Proximate tests and heat values given in table 5 and 6 from the moisture content test we can notice that the moisture values for all the samples are < 10% and its means the samples are suitable for thermo chemical conversion processes. Fixed carbon is used to estimate the amount of coal that will be generated from the sample of fuel material. Higher heating value (HHV) and lower heating value (LHV) are estimated according to the proximate tests. Table ( 5 ) : proximate analysis for the balanites aegyptiaca: Parameter Moisture content % Volatile matter % Ash content % Fixed carbon % Sample Outer shell 7.20 74.04 2.74 16.02 Internal shell 7.18 76.35 3.17 13.29 Kernel/Nut 5.70 87.53 2.99 4.31 Table ( 6 ) : HHV and LHV according to proximate analysis: sample HHV (MJ/Kg) LHV (MJ/Kg) Outer shell 18. 40 18.35 Internal shell 18.10 18.00 Kernel/Nut 14.9 2 14.90 Conclusion: Chemical composition of balanites aegyptiaca estimated by Infrared spectroscopy (IR) test. The result of proximate taste showed in table ( 5 ) . The HHV and LHV estimated according to the proximate analysis and the results were showed in table 6. So according to the previous results it’s very probably to convert the Balanites Aegyptaica fruit to the useful clean energy. Recommendations: - perform scanning electron microscope (SEM) to estimate the shapes and composition for the samples - Calculate the heating value according to the percentages of elements obtained from the previous recommendation. And compare it with the heating value calculated in this study 17