Thermo-chemical conversion of Kusum seed: A possible route to produce alternate fuel and chemicals

• The optimum pyrolytic temperature to produce maximum oil yield for Kusum was 550 oC.
• The liquid yield consists of 50.93% of oil and 7.58% of aqueous phase.
• Pyrolytic oil has energy content of 32.5 MJ kg−1 and can be used as alternate fuel.
• Oil can be source of chemicals such as nitriles, alkane, alkene, ester and alcohol.
• The char has calorific value of about 21.7 MJ kg−1 and surface area of 8.12 m2 g−1.

In the present study, Kusum seed (Schleichera oleosa) was selected as feed stock for the production of fuel and bio-chemicals using the thermo-chemical conversion technique. Pyrolysis was performed within the temperature range of 475–575 °C at a heating rate of 25 °C min−1 using a semi-batch reactor. The study confirmed that 550 °C was the optimum temperature to produce a maximum 58.51 wt% of pyrolysis liquid which consists of 50.93% of oil and 7.58% of aqueous phase. The fuel analysis confirmed that Kusum seed pyrolysis oil was less acidic in nature with a viscosity of 27 cSt. The calorific value was quite closer to diesel fuel about 32.5 MJ kg−1. The higher calorific value of oil visualized the probability of Kusum seed pyrolysis oil to use as an alternative fuel in diesel engine. The composition analysis illustrated that Kusum seed pyrolysis oil can be a source of various valuable bio-chemicals such as oleanitrile, 8-heptadecene, hexadecanenitrile, hentriacontane and chloroacetic acid-tetradecyl ester. The Kusum seed char has good calorific value about 21.7 MJ kg−1and rich in carbon content with a high H/C ratio. The char contained zeroarsenic compounds and BET surface area of about 8.12 m2 g−1.