TGA Study on Catalytic Thermal Degradation of Brown Solid (Fermented Product from Rice Straw) and Ash from Brown Solid as Catalyst

Abstract

Biomass is all parts that come from living creatures, such as plants. Biomass waste, especially from plants, has an energy source that can be converted into energy or chemicals. Biomass can be used as a renewable energy source, processed through thermal processes that convert biomass into renewable energy, such as the pyrolysis process, which produces gas, bio-oil, and biochar. Biochar is a black solid resulting from pyrolysis and contains many natural minerals depending on the biomass. Abundantly available biomass waste is rice straw. Brown solid is a fermented product from rice straw, one of the most abundant biomass. The high ash content in biomass has not been utilized optimally. The ash contained in biomass is a natural mineral that can be used further, such as as a catalyst. In this research, biomass ash from brown solids was used as a catalyst for thermal degradation by being characterized using TGA analysis to see the nature of thermal degradation and SEM analysis of charcoal or char and ash from brown solids. Brown solid pyrolysis products produce char heated to obtain ash that can be used as a catalyst. Thermal characterization of ash degradation as a catalyst and brown solid was carried out at biomass to ash as catalyst ratios of 1:1, 1:2, 1:3, and 1:4. The 1:1 ratio of brown solid to ash as catalyst has the most mass loss compared to other ratios. SEM analysis of brown solid ash shows significant differences in shape. The morphology of brown solid ash is like flakes.