Energy Recovery from Pumpkin Peel Using Microwave-Assisted Pyrolysis

Allende Leiva, Scarlett, Brodie, Graham, and Jacob, Mohan V. (2023) Energy Recovery from Pumpkin Peel Using Microwave-Assisted Pyrolysis. Energies, 16 (18). 6438.

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Abstract

The significant quantities of food waste that require disposal have a high environmental impact, and the depletion of non-renewable fuel sources has heightened the need to investigate sustainable and efficient methods of biomass conversion into energy. This research focuses on utilising pumpkin peel as a feedstock for energy recovery through microwave pyrolysis under different operating conditions. The study demonstrated that a higher biochar yield (11 wt%) was achieved at 0.9 kW. However, results revealed that superior quality biochar was obtained at 1.2 kW, characterized by high carbon content (70.33%), low oxygen content (23%), and significant pore formation in the carbon surface area. Optimal operating conditions, such as 1.2 kW, resulted in superior quality biochar and higher bio-oil generation. The pumpkin peel demonstrated the potential for CO2 (carbon dioxide) sequestration, with a rate of 14.29 g CO2 eq/kg. The research findings contribute to the exploration of sustainable solutions for biomass conversion and emphasize the importance of utilizing food waste for energy production while mitigating environmental impacts.

Item ID: 80856
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1996-1073
Keywords: bio-oil, biochar, food waste, microwave pyrolysis
Copyright Information: Copyright: © 2023 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Date Deposited: 20 Dec 2023 06:30
FoR Codes: 40 ENGINEERING > 4016 Materials engineering > 401699 Materials engineering not elsewhere classified @ 100%
SEO Codes: 17 ENERGY > 1707 Processing of energy sources > 170701 Biomass processing @ 100%
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