Thermochemical characterisation of agricultural wastes from West Africa

• Compared the thermochemical characterisation of nine different agricultural wastes residues from West African.
• Results provided characteristics information for their potential use as feedstock in thermochemical conversion processes.
• Rice straw was found to contain a very high ash content compared to others.
• Rice husk has the highest lignin contents and corn cob the lowest; a potential feedstock source for bio-oil production.

Thermochemical characterisation of agricultural biomass wastes from West African region has been carried out and their potential use as feedstock in thermochemical conversion processes determined. Proximate, ultimate, structural compositions, calorific values, thermogravimetry (TGA) and derivative thermogravimetry (DTG) analyses were carried out on corn straw and cobs, rice straw and husks, cocoa pod, jatropha curcas and moringa olifiera seed cakes, parinari polyandra fruit shell and sugarcane bagasse. Moringa olifiera seed cakes and cocoa pods were found to contain the highest moisture contents. Rice straw was found to contain a high ash content of 45.76 wt.%. The level of nitrogen and sulphur in all the samples were very low. Rice husk was found to have the highest lignin contents while corn cob low lignin contents indicate a potential feedstock source for quality bio-oil production using thermochemical process.