April 2011, Volume 2, No.

2
International Journal of Chemical and Environmental Engineering

Production of Pyrolytic Oil from Maize Stalk

1 F. Jamil-1a,b, A. Basit-2 a,, M. Tufail-3 a,, K. M. Adil-4 a,, M. Ghauri-5 a,
a
Biomass Conversion Research CenterDepartment of Chemical Engineering COMSATS Institute of Information
Technology (CIIT)M.A. Jinnah Building, Defence Road, Off Raiwind Road, Lahore-Pakistan
b
Farrukh Jamil
* Corresponding author: fjamil@ciitlahore.edu.pk

Abstract
Production of electricity using biomass is the growing need of world especially in Pakistan as it is facing crucial energy crisis. Maize
stalk is another renewable source of energy. Being agricultural country there is large production of maize which is cultivated twice a
year and is a cash crop as well. Hence generates massive maize waste mainly maize stalk. Pyrolysis of maize stalk produces pyrolytic
oil when heated at high temperatures. In this research maize stalk from fields of Okara (Punjab-Pakistan) were treated in tubular
furnace apparatus by maintaining inert conditions using Nitrogen gas. Tests on pyrolytic oil were conducted to check its potential as a
fuel including determination of heating value and other characteristics that reveal that pyrolytic oil can be used as fuel oil for
combustion in boiler and furnace as primary fuel.

Keywords: Biomass, Renewable Energy, Maize Stalk, Pyrolysis, Biodiesel,

1. Introduction Biomass refers to the organic matter derived from

In Pakistan, maize stalk is one of the major crops
cultivated twice a year. After harvesting, maize stalk is
further used for animal feed in Pakistan. This agriculture
waste can be used for energy production. According to
the records, Pakistan produces 171495 tons per year of
maize stalk [1]. Production of maize stalk in different
provinces of Pakistan is shown in Fig. 1.
206103
159547
112064
54075
Punjab Sindh Balochistan KPK
Fig. 1: Production of maize in Pakistan [1]
In Pakistan, the agricultural biomass residues are
becoming an issue of growing importance, not only for
economical reasons but also for environmental ones. Due
to the global environmental concerns over excessive fossil
fuel consumption, sustainable biomass resources have
created in importance as partial alternatives to fossil
resources. Maize stalk is one of the major agriculture
residues produced in large quantities. A part of this is
consumed in traditional way such as fodder for livestock,
fuel for steam boiler and household fuel for stoves.
plants generated through photosynthesis [2]. Many types
of plants grown in the world can be used for energy
production in many ways. Generally two approaches are
applied for this purpose: (1) plants are grown especially
for energy production, (2) plant residue is used in
different ways [3]. The old way of conversion of biomass
to energy is simple combust of biomass to produce heat
energy. The heat produced during combustion is used
directly for cooking, heating and industrial processes, or
indirectly, like production of electricity. The common
problem occurs during the combustion of biomass is
waste of lot of heat which cause some pollution to
environment [3].
Biomass is composed of carbon, hydrogen and
oxygen, can be converted into different chemicals and
other products like biofuels. For the conversion of
biomass in to energy different processes are used such as
gasification, combustion and pyrolysis. The heating of
biomass in the absence of air is referred as Pyrolysis.
Biomass such as agriculture waste (Maize Stalk, Rice
Husk), wood and saw dust are heated to 700oC to
decompose it in to volatile matter, charcoal and gas. The
major advantage of pyrolysis on the other process is that
no carbon dioxide is produced. However, this process
requires a high amount of energy for biomass conversion
to product [3].
The present research is focused on exploitation of
maize stalk for producing biofuels, a renewable source of
energy, to control the energy crises. Also the byproducts
can be effectively utilized for controlling the
environmental pollution. In this work maize stalk was
pyrolyzed at different temperatures and volatile matters
 produced were condensed by using chilled water. The
produced oil is characterized by its calorific value.

With increase in population and decrease in fossil-fuel

sources, the demand for biomass is expected to increase
rapidly in developing countries. Biomass provides 14% of
the world’s primary energy consumption [4]. For
approximately three quarters of the world population
biomass is the most important source of energy.
On average, biomass produces 38% of the primary
energy in developing countries shown in Fig. 2. It is
expected that biomass will remain an important global
renewable energy resource in the next century. For
example in developed country like USA gets 4% of its
total energy from biomass. There are more than 9000
MW electrical power is installed in facilities which are
using biomass as fuel. A number of developed countries
use biomass resources quite substantially as shown in Fig.
2, 3 [4].
Global biomass electricity capacity is in the range of
47 GW, with 2–3 GW added in 2005. Associated
investment accounted for 7% of total investment in
renewable energy capacity in 2005 [5]. By improving the
utilization of existing resources and by increasing plant
productivity an enormous biomass potential can be
gained. This could bring major social and economic
benefits to both rural and urban areas. Pakistan produces
an abundant amount of agriculture waste in the form of
crop residue such as maize stalk, bagasse, rice husk etc
thus has to be utilized.
Pakistan’s 80% of oil requirements are being met
through imports, while having a healthy potential for
biofuels. Currently, Pakistan’s 30% of the energy
requirements is being fulfilled by the biomass energy
resources, and due to gradual increase in the population
the average consumption rate of biomass is increasing
over 5% per annum [6][7].
Thus, Biomass, as the clean renewable energy
resource and having the abundant potential of producing
biofuels, can be utilized to liberate Pakistan from vital
energy crisis, cut down the imports of other fuels, and
diminish the emission of GHGs.
Fig. 3: Biomass Utilization as the Energy Source in the World [4]
2. Materials and Method
Pyrolytic Oil was produced by maize stalk, taken from
the fields of Okara (Punjab-Pakistan). After the removal
of dust, maize stalk was carried to crusher where desired
particle size was obtained by crushing the maize stalk.
Nitrogen Gas was used as heat transfer medium from
electrical heaters to maize stalk and also to produce inert
atmosphere. Maize stalk was crushed to 1 < Dp < 2 mm
particle size by using a crusher to get the most favourable
products. Then crushed sample was screened to get the
optimum size sample. For heating value of maize stalk,
XRY-1B oxygen bomb calorimeter was used. The ASTM
standard test method for heating value of refused dried
fuels (E711-81) was applied. Evaluated value is listed in
Table 1.
Proximate analysis was carried out to determine
volatile matter, moisture, fixed carbon and ash content.
The ASTM standard test method for proximate analysis
of wood fuels (E870-82) was applied to maize stalk for
the determination of proximate analysis. Proximate
analysis tabulated values are shown in Table 1. For
maximizing the heat transfer from heater to feed stock
placed in tubular furnace, Nitrogen gas was used.

100 Material Maize Stalk

Biomass Energy share on

75 Moisture (%) 8.9

Total Energy (%)

50 Volatile Matter (%) 71.3

25 Fixed Carbon (%) 13.1

0
Ash (%) 6.7
ya

a
al

il

t
i

yp
w

di

in

az
ep

en
a

Heating Value (J/g) 13654

In

Ch

Eg
Br
al
N

K
M

Countries

Table 1: Proximate Analysis of Maize Stalk (as received basis)

Fig. 2: Share of Biomass on Total Energy Consumption

127
 As shown in Fig. 4, devices used in experiment were
Table 3: Charcoal Yield
a hopper, crusher, electrically heated tubular furnace,
cyclone, condenser, circulation pump and temperature
measuring sensors as thermocouples. Charcoal Yield (wt %)
Pyrolysis reaction was carried out by placing 200 gm Sr. 1 2 3 Avg.
maize stalk in tubular furnace under inert atmosphere. 425 30.03 30.05 30.02 30.07
The tubular furnace, dimensions of 84 cm length and 2.5 450 25.04 25.04 25.04 25.04
cm diameter, was used for pyrolysis. Pyrolysis 475 21.75 21.80 21.82 21.79

Temperature
experiments were performed in tubular furnace in inert 500 18.41 18.47 18.47 18.45
atmosphere. Another stream of Nitrogen gas is injected in 525 17.55 17.50 17.50 17.53
tubular furnace to make atmosphere inert and heat is 550 15.83 15.82 15.82 15.74
transferred to maize stalk feed through hot nitrogen gas. 575 15.61 15.53 15.46 15.53
Different samples of pyrolytic oil were produced
600 14.10 14.04 14.06 14.07
between 425-600 oC under the flow of nitrogen gas at 20
L/hr. In the tubular furnace, temperature was controlled
using K-type thermocouple. The heating rate of furnace Table 4: Gas Yield
was controlled at 25 oC/min. During pyrolysis, volatile
matter was driven off leaving char and ash as a solid Gas Yield (wt %)
residue. Sr. 1 2 3 Avg.
The pyrolytic oil produced was in vapour form. Hence
425 10.57 10.53 10.52 10.54
condenser was placed at outlet of tubular furnace to
450 13.37 13.34 13.38 13.36
condense pyrolytic oil and gas was removed. Cyclone was
475 14.91 14.92 14.91 14.91

Temperature
placed which separated charcoal from gas. Circulating
pump was used for pumping of cool liquid in condenser. 500 15.60 15.61 15.59 15.60
The yield of pyrolytic oil was observed by weighing 525 19.03 19.06 19.07 19.05
the oil produced. By-products such as Charcoal and Gas 550 21.75 22.01 21.79 21.85
were also produced. Yield of pyrolytic oil was heavily 575 23.29 23.35 23.34 23.33
impacted by the condensing the vapors listed in Table 2. 600 24.80 24.80 24.80 24.80
Charcoal separated from the gas using cyclone, yield was
determined. The evaluated values of charcoal yield listed
in Table 3. For quick condensing, chilled water is
circulated in condenser by means of circulating pump.
The yield of pyrolytic oil and charcoal was measured. Gas
yield was calculated by the difference. The evaluated
values of gas yield listed in Table 4.

Table 2: Pyrolytic Oil Yield

Pyrolytic Oil Yield (wt %)

Sr. 1 2 3 Avg.
425 59.40 59.42 59.36 59.39
450 61.59 61.62 61.58 61.6
475 63.33 63.28 63.27 63.29
Temperature

500 65.99 65.92 65.94 65.95

525 63.42 63.41 63.43 63.42
550 62.42 62.43 62.39 62.41
575 61.10 61.12 61.20 61.14 Fig. 5: Relation between Product Yield & Pyrolysis Temperature
600 61.05 61.09 61.10 61.08

128
 Fig. 4: Process Flow Sheet, (1) Crusher, (2) Sieve, (3) Nitrogen Gas Cylinder, (4) Flow meter, (5) Flow control valve, (6) Temperature
Controller, (7) Tubular Furnace, (8) K-Type Thermocouple, (9) Condenser, (10) Cyclone
The pyrolytic oil obtained was characterized on the
basis of calorific value. The calorific value of pyrolytic
oil was measured by XRY-1B oxygen bomb calorimeter.
Pyrolytic oil was fractionated using liquid column
chromatography. 100 gm of pyrolytic oil sample was
dissolved in methyl alcohol to completely mix the oil and
then filtered to separate any char material present in oil.
The mixture was further added into hexane and separated
in to two fractions as hexane soluble and hexane
insoluble. The hexane was separated from hexane soluble
oil fraction by evaporation under vacuum. The oil
obtained was further tested by its calorific value. The
miscibility of pyrolytic oil and diesel was checked.
3. Results and Discussion
3.1. Influence of Temperature
The results of products yield related to pyrolysis
temperatures are listed in Table 3-5 while their relation is
shown in Fig. 5.
The results show that with increase in temperature:
1) Pyrolysis oil yield first increases then decreases
between temperature range of 425 – 600 oC. As
temperature increases (up to 500 oC), pyrolytic oil
yield also increases. While temperature increases
above 500oC, pyrolytic oil yield starts to decrease.
Hence about 66 % of pyrolytic oil was achieved.
2) Production of Charcoal decreases as the temperature
increases from 425 – 600 oC.
3) Yield of gas always shows increasing trend as the
temperature increases.
3.2. Miscibility of Pyrolytic Oil with Diesel
Experimental results show that pyrolytic oil is
completely immiscible with diesel. On mixing with diesel
in different ratios, results show that pyrolytic oil is not
miscible with diesel but it forms a homogeneous
emulsion. Therefore, pyrolytic oil which was produced
129
can be directly used as an alternate fuel, without
upgrading [8], for production of electricity.
3.3. Quality of Pyrolytic Oil
Comparing the energy content of maize stalk with
other agriculture wastes such as rice husk [9], tobacco
stalk [10] it is examined that maize stalk has higher
energy content than other agriculture wastes. This
suggests that maize stalk will be more efficient than other
agriculture waste.
4. Conclusion
Biomass, due to its high energy contents and zero CO2
emission during pyrolysis, is considered as major source
for energy. In this study it has been observed that
production of pyrolytic oil from maize stalk increases
with rise in temperature from 425 to 500 oC and decreases
from 500 – 600 oC. The maximum yield of pyrolytic oil is
produced at 500 oC i.e. 65.99 wt%. For condensing the
pyrolytic oil, quick condensation has to be applied
otherwise the condensable gases would be converted to
non condensable gas and unwanted bitumen. It is
observed that temperature above 600 oC increase the
charcoal production. Pyrolytic oil produced can be used
as fuel oil in production of electricity without any
upgradation.
15
10
Charge (nC*1000)
5
0
-5
-10
-15
-10 -5 0 5 10
Voltage (kV)
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