Palm fruit shell was pyrolyzed in a closed simple reactor. The physical and chemical properties of the pyrolytic oil (bio-oil) were characterized. The effect of original and fractionated bio-oil was analyzed as a germination promoting agent. Raw palm shell bio-oil character differed from that of wood and other biomass. The pyrolysis temperature caused differences in yield and acetic acid content, but there were no significant differences in specific gravity, pH, or the major chemical components of shell bio-oil. The effect of shell bio-oil on germination and radicle growth of seeds depended on pyrolysis temperature, fraction, and dilution rate. Original shell bio-oil had the best effect on germination and radicle growth. Dilutions of 102 and 103 inhibited germination and radicle growth for three kinds of seeds.
Contributor Notes
The authors are, respectively, PhD student, Professor, and Associate Professor, Dept. of Natural Resources Process Engineering, Interdisciplinary Faculty of Sci. and Engineering, Shimane Univ., Matsue, Shimane, Japan (sigit_nonwood@yahoo.com, uehara@riko.shimane-u.ac.jp, sadanobu@riko.shimane-u.ac.jp). This paper was received for publication in March 2011. Article no. 11-00033.