Characterization of the liquid product obtained by pyrolysis of karanja seed

Karanja (Pongamia glabra) seeds were pyrolyzed in semi-batch mode at a temperature range of 450–550 °C and at a heating rate of 20 °C/min. FTIR (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy) analysis of the liquid product indicates the presence of alkanes, alkenes, ketones, carboxylic acids and aromatics rings. GC–MS (Gas chromatography–Mass spectrometry) demonstrated the presence of hydrocarbons with between 14 and 31 carbon atoms in a chain. The physical properties of the pyrolysis liquid were close to mixture of diesel and petrol.