Comparison of yield and fuel properties of thermal and catalytic Mahua seed pyrolytic oil

The catalytic effect of CaO, on Mahua seed pyrolysis at a feed to catalyst ratio of 2:1, 4:1 and 8:1 was studied. The pyrolytic liquid collected was separated into two phases. The top phase (organic) was considered as oil phase where as the bottom phase as aqueous. Maximum yield of 40.71 wt.% of oil with better fuel properties was obtained as Mahua seed pyrolyzed in the presence of CaO at the ratio of 2:1. The result confirmed that catalyst (CaO) not only increased the heating value (41-43.15 MJ kg−1), viscosity (0.033-0.018 Pa s) and cold flow properties but also altered the pH (4.86-8.58) significantly when compared with thermal pyrolysis.