Physicochemical characterisation of char slurry from fish based food waste

In this research, fish was used as a main material (sample) to conduct the study. Specifically, only certain parts of fish were selected by which the bones, head and the flesh were fully utilized for the study that will be conducted. The parts of fish were dried in the oven for 80°C for 24 hours to lower the moisture content. The dried parts were then undergone pyrolysis process with different temperatures of 200 to 500°C with the residence times from 2 to 6 hours. The char residues produced were weighed in order to determine the percentage of char yield. The char was ground into powder for analyzing the carbon content in the biomass prior to mixing with isobutanol to produce liquid fuel (bio char slurry). The sample was then analyzed for the energy density by using bomb calorimeter. The percentage of yield produced from the biomass was calculated and the results showed that there is the decreasing pattern as the temperature for the pyrolysis increases. At temperature of 200°C, 5 hours of bones sample gave the highest percentage on the char yield followed by 300°C, 400°C and 500°C. The carbon content analysis conducted by using CHNS Elemental Analyzer gave a result with decreasing in percentage as the temperature increase by which the highest is at temperature of 200°C, 3 hours of flesh sample. After that, energy density obtained showed the highest is being contributed by flesh sample at 300°C at 4 hours. In addition, the pattern of energy density data are corresponding to the pattern of carbon content percentage by which the decreasing of carbon content gives decreasing in energy density as the temperature increase in pyrolysis process. Overall, the best temperature and duration for pyrolysis in order to produce energy density that suitable in making fuel is fish flesh sample at 300°C at 4 hours.