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Microwave-assisted pyrolysis of food waste: optimization of fixed carbon content using response surface methodology
(Taylor and Francis Ltd., 2021) Kadlimatti, H.M.; Raj Mohan, B.; Saidutta, M.B.
Pyrolysis of food waste using microwave irradiation was carried out in this study to produce quality biochar for heating applications. Optimum conditions for microwave-assisted pyrolysis of food waste particles were determined using response surface methodology (RSM). Combined effects of the operating variables, namely pyrolysis temperature (°C), residence time (min) and nitrogen flow rate (mL min?1), were analyzed by conducting 20 experiments. Microwave-assisted pyrolysis results were correlated by applying RSM with the regressions coefficients of 92.90% for biochar and 90.305% for fixed carbon content. Microwave power of 450 W yielded 60.03 wt. % of biochar with a fixed carbon content of 48.71 wt. % under the optimum pyrolysis conditions of 400 °C temperature, 30 min residence time and 50 mL min?1 of nitrogen flow rate. The higher heating value of the biochar was 33.35 MJ kg?1. © 2019 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.