Researchers are constantly looking at various materials as a source of renewable, sustainable, and clean energy. Recently, researchers from the Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Machinery Sciences in China put the spotlight on hazelnut shells.
Burning the shells at 400 to 1,000 resulted in wood vinegar and tar which they found to be a potential source of renewable energy depending on their own characteristics. The residue produced a bio-oil that has physicochemical properties and antioxidant properties, making it another candidate for renewable energy.
Researchers found that the wood vinegar and tar leftover from the shells contained phenolic substances which created a foundation for the subsequent research on antioxidant properties.
Wood vinegar is commonly used as an insect repellent, fertilizer, and plant growth promoter or inhibitor. It can also be applied as an odor remover, wood preservative, and animal feed additive.
The temperature of pyrolysis, or the decomposition brought about by high temperatures, had a significant effect on the yield and properties of wood vinegar and tar fraction in the bio-oil extracted from hazelnut shells.
Such findings set the groundwork for further research of bio-oil waste from hazelnut shell pyrolysis and how it can be used as a source of sustainable and clean energy.