Evaluations of Mixed Wood Sawdust from Igbinedion Sawmill, Okada, Edo State, as Potential Feedstock in Biomass Pyrolysis

Abstract

Sawdust (or wood dust) is a by-product in the wood processing industries. Sawdust can cause environmental pollution concern, though it is not without practical uses. For modern interest, biomass (sawdust) is converted to clean fuels which curbs environmental pollution. Its possible use as feed in thermochemical process solves waste management concerns and simultaneously improves the country’s energy-mix. The characteristics of the biomass affect the conversion of biomass into bio-energy. Biomass analyses result can improve our understanding of the economics and environmental impact of biomass conversion process. Proximate analysis gave the moisture, ash, volatile matter and fixed carbon contents as, 6.93, 2.03, 38.5 and 52.54 wt %, respectively. Ultimate analysis gave the carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, and hydrogen and sulphur contents as, 61.5, 29.52, 0.67, 7.68 and 0.63 wt %, respectively. While chemical analysis gave the cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin contents as, 68.7, 27.3 and 4.0 wt %, respectively. The higher heating value and lower heating value of the mixed wood sawdust sample are about 25.58 MJ/kg and 24.53 MJ/kg, respectively. Furthermore, the physiochemical analysis of mixed wood sawdust sample revealed the presence of twenty two elements. The organic compounds functional groups present in the mixed wood sawdust sample include aldehydes, alkanes, amines, anhydrides, carboxylic acids, nitro-compounds and primary amines.