. Pyrolysis product analysis
FTIR analysis was performed on the pyrolysis oil using a Nicolet 6700 FTIR spectrometer (Thermo Fisher Scientific, USA) to identify the functional groups present in the pyrolysis oil (Putun et al., 2004). A gas chromatography coupled with a mass spectrometer (GC–MS) (Hewlett–Packard HP5970B, Waldbronn, Germany) was used to evaluate the oil products, particularly the organic compounds and the methanol present in the oil products. Pyrolysis gas that could not be condensed was also analyzed by GC-MC using an Rtx 5 analysis column at an oven temperature of 25 °C and an injection temperature of 230 °C.
Statistical analysis was carried out to determine the significant parameters affecting the yield of the methanol and ethanol production using Minitab 14. The parameters considered for the analysis were, volatile compound, moisture contain, percentage of ash and fix carbon. Main effects, which are contrasts between levels of one factor averaged over all levels of another factor were used to determine the significant factor. The plot for main effects was generated by Minitab 14 software.