Menya, EOlupot, PWStorz, HLubwama, MKiros, YJohn, Maya J2019-08-142019-08-142019-03Menya, E. (et.al.). 2019. Optimization of pyrolysis conditions for char production from rice husks and its characterization as a precursor for production of activated carbon. Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery, pp 1-16.2190-68152190-6823https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13399-019-00399-0https://rdcu.be/bOEjrhttp://hdl.handle.net/10204/11075Copyright: 2019 Springer. Due to copyright restrictions, the attached PDF file only contains the abstract of the full text item. For access to the full text item, kindly consult the publisher's website. A free fulltext non-print version of the published item can be viewed at uri:https://rdcu.be/bOEjr.Response surface methodology was employed to optimize pyrolysis conditions for production of char with maximum yield, fixed carbon content, and with minimum ash content from Uganda’s New Rice for Africa (NERICA) 1 rice husk variety. The aim was to obtain rice husk char with more suitable properties as an activated carbon precursor. Mathematical models were developed to explain the relationships between the experimental responses and the pyrolysis parameters of temperature (400–600 °C), heating rate (10–25 °C min-1), and heating period (60–120 min). The optimized rice husk char was further characterized for elemental and proximate compositions, thermal behavior, specific surface area, as well as surface functional groups. Results from the analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed that the quadratic model best fits each of the responses. Pyrolysis temperature had the greatest influence on each of the responses, followed by heating period, and lastly heating rate. Optimum pyrolysis conditions were found to be temperature (406 °C), heating rate (10 °C min-1), and heating period (60 min), resulting in char yield, fixed carbon, and ash contents of 35.26, 55.39, and 35.01% dry basis, respectively. Compared to raw rice husk, the resulting rice husk char was found more suited as activated carbon precursor, due to its enriched carbon content (60.35%) and specific surface area (123.9 m2 g-1). Thermogravimetric analysis of the rice husk char revealed that thermal activation temperatures higher than 400 °C may be required to considerably devolatilize the char, forming a more porous activated carbon.enAsh contentChar yieldFixed carbonNERICA 1 rice huskOptimizationPyrolysisArticleMenya, E., Olupot, P., Storz, H., Lubwama, M., Kiros, Y., & John, M. J. (2019). Optimization of pyrolysis conditions for char production from rice husks and its characterization as a precursor for production of activated carbon. http://hdl.handle.net/10204/11075Menya, E, PW Olupot, H Storz, M Lubwama, Y Kiros, and Maya J John "Optimization of pyrolysis conditions for char production from rice husks and its characterization as a precursor for production of activated carbon." (2019) http://hdl.handle.net/10204/11075Menya E, Olupot P, Storz H, Lubwama M, Kiros Y, John MJ. Optimization of pyrolysis conditions for char production from rice husks and its characterization as a precursor for production of activated carbon. 2019; http://hdl.handle.net/10204/11075.TY - Article AU - Menya, E AU - Olupot, PW AU - Storz, H AU - Lubwama, M AU - Kiros, Y AU - John, Maya J AB - Response surface methodology was employed to optimize pyrolysis conditions for production of char with maximum yield, fixed carbon content, and with minimum ash content from Uganda’s New Rice for Africa (NERICA) 1 rice husk variety. The aim was to obtain rice husk char with more suitable properties as an activated carbon precursor. Mathematical models were developed to explain the relationships between the experimental responses and the pyrolysis parameters of temperature (400–600 °C), heating rate (10–25 °C min-1), and heating period (60–120 min). The optimized rice husk char was further characterized for elemental and proximate compositions, thermal behavior, specific surface area, as well as surface functional groups. Results from the analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed that the quadratic model best fits each of the responses. Pyrolysis temperature had the greatest influence on each of the responses, followed by heating period, and lastly heating rate. Optimum pyrolysis conditions were found to be temperature (406 °C), heating rate (10 °C min-1), and heating period (60 min), resulting in char yield, fixed carbon, and ash contents of 35.26, 55.39, and 35.01% dry basis, respectively. Compared to raw rice husk, the resulting rice husk char was found more suited as activated carbon precursor, due to its enriched carbon content (60.35%) and specific surface area (123.9 m2 g-1). Thermogravimetric analysis of the rice husk char revealed that thermal activation temperatures higher than 400 °C may be required to considerably devolatilize the char, forming a more porous activated carbon. DA - 2019-03 DB - ResearchSpace DP - CSIR KW - Ash content KW - Char yield KW - Fixed carbon KW - NERICA 1 rice husk KW - Optimization KW - Pyrolysis LK - https://researchspace.csir.co.za PY - 2019 SM - 2190-6815 SM - 2190-6823 T1 - Optimization of pyrolysis conditions for char production from rice husks and its characterization as a precursor for production of activated carbon TI - Optimization of pyrolysis conditions for char production from rice husks and its characterization as a precursor for production of activated carbon UR - http://hdl.handle.net/10204/11075 ER -