Plasma Pyrolysis/Gasification of Cotton Waste and Energy Recovery Possibilities

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Dave, Pragnesh N. | Joshi, Asim

Affiliations: Department of Chemistry, K.S.K.V. Kachchh University, Bhuj – 370 001, Gujarat, India | 1Chemical Engineering Department, Institute of Technology, Nirma University Sarkhej-Gandhinagar Highway, Ahmedabad – 380 019

Abstract: In this study of plasma pyrolysis of cotton, main focus was drawn on the energy recovery possibilities by generating Syn gas (H_2 + CO) by thermal pyrolysis and gasification (cracking) of cotton through plasma as heat source. Through GC analysis, we concluded that plasma pyrolysis of cotton in temperature range of 500 to 700°C yields H2 as main component around 15–25% volume basis and other compounds like CO, CO_2, CH_4, C_2H_6, C_2H_4, C2H2 and soot (carbon). Dioxin and furan formation do not take place as we worked in higher temperature ranges and then provided sudden fast quenching to avoid De-Nevo synthesis. The theoretical and experimental energy recovery comparisons have also been done and shown.

Keywords: Plasma waste treatment, hydrogen, cotton waste, energy recovery, DC plasma

Journal: Asian Journal of Water, Environment and Pollution, vol. 9, no. 3, pp. 59-66, 2012