Exploitation of Pongamia glabra deoiled cake for alternate energy: Physico-chemical characterization and thermogravimetric studies

Utilization of agro-wastes for biofuel generation has been accepted as one of the feasible means for curbing down mankind’s dependence on conventional petro fuels. In this regard, the present investigation aims to understand the properties of Pongamia glabra deoiled cake (a byproduct of the biodiesel production process) for biofuel production. The deoiled cake was investigated for its physico-chemical characteristics by Bomb calorimetry, TG analysis (10, 20, and 40° min^–1), CHN analysis, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The proximate composition was calculated using standard ASTM methodology. The temperature characteristics, activation energy, pre-exponential factor, and reaction order for the active pyrolysis zone of the species under investigation have been provided for the respective heating rates using Arrhenius, Coats–Redfern, and Flynn–Wall–Ozawa methods. The findings suggest feasibility of liquid fuel production from Pongamia glabra deoiled cake via thermochemical conversion.