Pyrolysis and Activation of an Invasive Species

• Other Authors: Mayers, Jordan (authoraut)
• Format: Others
• Language: English; English
• Published: Florida State University
• Subjects: Civil engineering; Environmental engineering
• Online Access: http://purl.flvc.org/fsu/fd/FSU_migr_etd-8841

Invasive plants are a nuisance and a hazard across the United States. Many states spend large amounts of money in an attempt to control and prevent the spread of these plants. This study seeks to take these invasive, low value plants and process them into higher value products. The first step is pyrolysis in which the plant, albizia, is converted into bio-gas, bio-oil, and bio-char. The bio-gas is released while the bio-char and bio-oil are collected. Their basic properties are studied and presented. The bio-char is then further processed to produce activated carbon. Both physical activation with steam and chemical activation with phosphoric acid were evaluated. The carbon showed significantly increased surface area and iodine adsorption. Both physical and chemical activation achieved significant activation with iodine numbers as high as 1000 mg. of I per g. of activated carbon. The results also showed that the yield was significantly increased with the addition of phosphoric acid while maintaining high iodine numbers. As phosphoric acid increased, the yield increased. === A Thesis submitted to the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science. === Spring Semester, 2014. === April 8, 2014. === Includes bibliographical references. === Gang Chen, Professor Co-Directing Thesis; Hafiz Ahmad, Professor Co-Directing Thesis; Clayton J. Clark, II, Committee Member; Wenrui Huang, Committee Member.