Cotton gin trash (CGT) was pyrolyzed at different temperatures and heating rates in a programmable temperature controlled furnace. The total amount of output products (solid, liquid condensate and gases) from the pyrolysis of cotton gin trash was determined. The CGT was oven-dried for 12 hours to reduce the moisture content to wt. %. The heating value of the feedstock was measured. It was milled, sieved and weighed before being placed in the hopper of the laboratory-scale pyrolyzer. Air was evacuated in the pyrolysis reactor before the start of each run. The CGT was pyrolyzed at temperatures of 400, 600, 800, 1000 and 1200 deg C. The feeding rates were varied by controlling the speed of the motor which drives the auger in the pyrolyzer. Report of char, liquid condensates and gas yield will be presented. Liquid and gaseous products were evaluated using a gas chromatograph. It is expected that gas yield will increase as conversion temperature is increased while char yield will decrease. The efficiency of the pyrolyzer was calculated by the mass and energy balance made of the products with each reaction temperature used. By elucidating on the solid, liquid and gaseous products of pyrolysis of CGT, conversion process will be modeled for the optimal production of either char for activated carbon production or syngas for the production of synthetic petroleum via catalytic cracking and reforming processes.

Keywords: Cotton gin trash, pyrolysis, syngas, liquid condensates, char.