Temperature Regime and Its Effect on Energy Potentials of Bio-Oil From Ficus Exasperata Wood Residue

This study was to determine the ultimate and proximate analysis of bio-oil produced from sawdust of Ficus exasperata. A vacuum reactor was used to extract bio-oil from sawdust at three temperature regime; 500, 550 and 600oC for use in energy generation and other value added products. Physical properties, Ultimate analysis (C,H,N,O), heating value, GC-MS of bio-oil were determined using standard procedure. Result shows that bio-oil at 500°C had highest yield (42.4%) with lowest bio-char (21.7%), density (1.12Kg/dm3), pH (3.43), Moisture content (25.85%) and Kinematic viscosity (299.92cSt). Average content of CHNO was 77.42, 4.77, 0.10 and 17.81% respectively. Proximate analysis at 500oC shows highest %Ash and lowest HV as 0.09%, and 34.08Mjkg-1 respectively, while lowest %Ash and highest HV of 0.05% and 34.10Mjkg-1 respectively were obtained at 600oC. GC-MS peaks showed that the bio-oil was composed of hydrocarbons and oxygenated compounds while oxylic, carboxylic and benzoic acids were detected. Keywords: Wood residue; pyrolysis, physical properties, heating value, GC-MS. DOI: 10.7176/JETP/9-8-01 Publication date: November 30th 201