Pyrolysis of black cumin seed cake in a fixed-bed reactor

The black cumin seed cake (BCSC) is a by-product obtained from the black cumin seeds with cold pressing. This by-product can be utilized as a biomass feedstock for conversion to bio-oil with pyrolysis process. The BCSC samples were initially pyrolyzed on a lab-scale pyrolysis system at different values in the ranges of 300–800 °C and 0.050–0.300 L min−1 to determine the effects of operation temperature and N2 flow rate on the yields on products, respectively. Then, the bio-oil in the highest yield (wB = 44.37%) which was obtained at pyrolysis final temperature (450 °C) temperature, heating rate (35 °C min−1), particle size (dp > 850 μm), and sweeping flow rate of 0.200 L min−1 was characterized by Fourier Transform infra-red (FT-IR) spectroscopy, gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and column chromatography. Consequently, it was shown that the operating temperature and N2 gas flow rate parameters were effective on the product yields. Also, the important some physico-chemical properties of the pyrolytic oil obtained in high yield were determined as the calorific value of 38.48 MJ kg−1, the empirical formula of CH1.651O0.105N0.042S0.001, the rich chemical content containing many different chemical groups, and the density of 970.25 kg m−3, and the viscosity of 63.42 mm2 s−1. Based on the determined properties of the pyrolytic oil, it was decided that the use of pyrolytic oil derived from the BCSC may possible be for the production of the alternative liquid fuels and finely chemicals after the necessary improvements.

► Black cumin seed cake was firstly used in this study for the production of bio-oil.
► Bio-oil obtained had higher heating value of 38.48; nearly equal to diesel fuel.
► The distribution of carbon in aliphatic fraction of bio-oil was between C12 and C21.
► Bio-oil contained the most C15 and C17 hydrocarbon compounds.
► Bio-oil may be suitable for the production of fuels and chemicals by further upgrading.