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Fast Pyrolysis of Cocoa Bean Shell

Publication Date
Authors
Author Name
Maria Milagros Vicho
Author Organization
National University of Córdoba, Organic Chemistry Department, Faculty of Chemical Sciences. Córdoba, Argentina.
Author Name
Elizabeth Laura Moyano
Author Name
Tellez Bernal, Jhoan Francisco

The increasing demand for sustainable waste utilization has led to a growing interest in cocoa shell as a valuable biomass resource. This study investigates the pyrolysis of cocoa shell, both untreated and acid-washed, at temperatures of 300, 400, and 500 °C to extract valuable compounds. Utilizing nitrogen as the pyrolysis atmosphere, we aimed to optimize conditions for the production of bio-oil enriched in valuable compounds. The resulting bio-oils were analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), revealing significant yields of fatty acids, including tetradecanoic acid, cis-vaccenic acid, and pentadecanoic acid. Notably, acid-washed cocoa shell exhibited higher bio-oil yields compared to untreated samples, with the optimal temperature of 500 °C yielding the highest concentration of these fatty acids. Additionally, in the acid-treated biomass, a high concentration of sugars was found, particularly levoglucosan, which accounted for over 50% at 500 °C. The findings suggest that the pyrolysis of cocoa shell, especially when pretreated with acid, not only provides a means of waste valorization but also generates bio-oil and biochar with promising properties for health and environmental applications. This research underscores the importance of exploring agricultural residues like cocoa shells for sustainable bioresource development.

Field of Interest
Source
Second Southern Science Conference
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