Physicochemical and thermal characterization of rice straw and rice husk biomass

Abstract

This study investigates the physicochemical and structural properties of rice straw and rice husk to understand their suitability as potential bioenergy feedstocks. Proximate and compositional analyses were conducted to determine their basic chemical composition. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was performed to evaluate their thermal degradation behavior, while bulk density, true density, and higher heating value (HHV) were measured to assess fuel quality. The results highlight distinct differences between rice straw and rice husk in terms of ash content, volatile matter, cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, and energy potential. These findings provide useful insights for the development of biomass-based energy applications.