TY - JOUR AU - Nyakuma, Bemgba B. AU - M. Ajibade, Samuel-Soma AU - Adebayo, Victor B. AU - Alkali, Habib AU - Otitolaiye, Victor O. AU - Audu, Jemilatu O. AU - Bashir, Faizah M. AU - Dodo, Yakubu A. AU - Mahmoud, Abubakar S. AU - Oladokun, Olagoke PY - 2022/01/27 Y2 - 2024/03/28 TI - Carbon dioxide-assisted Torrefaction of Maize Cobs by Thermogravimetry: Product Yield and Energy Recovery Potentials: Array JF - Physics and Chemistry of Solid State JA - Phys. Chem. Sol. State VL - 23 IS - 1 SE - Scientific articles (Physics) DO - 10.15330/pcss.23.1.16-24 UR - https://scijournals.pnu.edu.ua/index.php/pcss/article/view/5323 SP - 16-24 AB - <p>The objective of this study is to examine the potential product yields and energy recovery of maize cobs (MC) through carbon dioxide-assisted torrefaction using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The CO<sub>2</sub>-assisted torrefaction of MC was performed from 240 °C to 300 °C (Δ 30 °C) for the residence time of 30 minutes based on the selected non-isothermal/isothermal heating program of the TGA. Furthermore, the physicochemical, microstructure and mineral characteristics of MC were examined. The results showed that the CO2-torrefaction of MC resulted in a mass loss (ML) ranging from 18.45% to 55.17%, which resulted in the mass yield (MY) ranging from 81.55% to 44.83%. The HHV of the solid product was in the range from 22.55 MJ/kg to 26 MJ/kg, which indicates the CO<sub>2</sub>-torrefaction process enhanced the energy content of MC by 40% – 60%. In conclusion, the findings showed that the CO<sub>2</sub> torrefaction is a practical, sustainable, and cost-effective approach for the valorization of MC into a clean solid biofuel for enhanced energy recovery.</p> ER -