Investigating Bio-Oil Yield from Co-pyrolysis of Mixed Medical Waste and Biomass under Varying Temperature and Residence Time

Abrar Ridwan; Budi Istana; Ridwan Abdurrahman; Israyandi; Tri Aprio

doi:10.15282/ijame.22.2.2025.4.0941

Authors

Abrar Ridwan Department of Mechanical Engineering, Universitas Muhammadiyah Riau, 28294 Pekanbaru, Indonesia
Budi Istana Department of Mechanical Engineering, Universitas Muhammadiyah Riau, 28294 Pekanbaru, Indonesia
Ridwan Abdurrahman Department of Mechanical Engineering, Universitas Riau, 28293 Pekanbaru, Indonesia
Israyandi Department of Chemical Engineering, Universitas Muhammadiyah Riau, 28294 Pekanbaru, Indonesia
Tri Aprio Department of Mechanical Engineering, Universitas Muhammadiyah Riau, 28294 Pekanbaru, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15282/ijame.22.2.2025.4.0941

Keywords:

Co-pyrolysis, Medical waste, Residence-time, Temperature, Bio-oil

Abstract

Co-pyrolysis is a thermochemical process using more than one raw material to become a new energy source without oxygen at high or low temperatures. This study aims to determine the effect of co-pyrolysis if temperature and residence time are varied on the yield of bio-oil mixed with biomass and medical waste. The research was conducted using a small-scale batch reactor equipped with an electrically controlled band heater as a reactor tube heater. Co-pyrolysis was carried out with variations in temperature, namely 300°C, 400°C, and 500°C, as well as three different raw material waiting times in the reactor, namely 10, 15, and 20 minutes. The flow rate of nitrogen gas to the reactor is set at 0.5 liters per minute, and the number of samples taken for each batch procedure is 60 grams. The results showed that increasing the temperature positively affected bio-oil yield, but applying very high temperatures had the opposite effect, namely decreasing the amount of bio-oil but increasing the amount of syn-gas produced. Residence time dramatically affects the composition of the bio-oil and syn-gas compounds produced but does not significantly affect the biochar yield. At lower and moderate temperatures, prolonging the residence time enhances bio-oil production. However, at 500°C, extending the residence time diminishes bio-oil yield. The bio-oil obtained has a high calorific value of 46.334 MJ/kg, making it suitable for use as an alternative fuel.

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