Bemgba Nyakuma, Olagoke Oladokun, Yakubu Dodo, Syie Wong, Habibu Uthman and Muhamad Halim (2016). Fuel characterization and thermogravimetric analysis of melon (Citrullus Colocynthis L.) deed husk, Chemistry & Chemical Technology, Vol. 10, No. 4, 493–497

Abstract

The thermochemical fuel properties of melon seed husk (MSH) were characterized to examine its solid biofuel (SBF) potential for future bioenergy utilization. MSH is a cheap, abundant and renewable source of ligno cellulosic waste generated from the extraction of vege table oil from melon seeds. Thermochemical characteri zation was examined by proximate, ultimate, and thermogravimetric (TG-DTG) analyses, as well as Fourier transform infra-red (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The results showed that MSH exhibits significant volatile matter, fixed carbon, carbon and low nitrogen, sulphur and ash content with a heating value (HHV) of 19.02 MJ/kg. FT IR analysis indicated functional groups for aliphatic, ester, ketone, alcohol, and aromatic compounds. Thermal decomposition of MSH occurred in three stages: drying (303–448 K), devolatization (448–673 K) and char degradation (673–1073 K