Physicochemical properties and proximate analysis of cotton stalks biomass

Abstract

Biomass gasification is a thermo-chemical process, which converts the solid biomass in oxygen deficient environment into combustible producer gas. The cotton stalk is abundantly available for converting solid biomass into useful form of energy. Gasifiers have promising potential for agriculture and agro industrial applications, which provided improved gas quality, particularly in terms of tar and particulate matter contents of the gas. Average bulk density of shredded cotton stalk was found as 146.58 kg/m3 and increased 485.36% of whole cotton stalk. The proximate analysis of shredded cotton stalk biomass in terms of moisture content, fixed carbon, volatile matter and ash content were found as 11.46, 16.47, 78.12, and 5.41 (%, d.b), respectively. The values of pH, EC, O.C., available N, P2O5, K2O and S of shredded cotton stalk were found as 5.41, 3.05 dS/m, 54.58%, 0.77%, 0.10%, 0.39% and 0.11%, respectively.