Bench scale catalytic fast pyrolysis of empty fruit bunches over low cost catalysts and HZSM-5 using a fixed bed reactor

Slow pyrolysis (SP) and fast pyrolysis (FP) of rice husks, coconut shells and their mixtures were studied in a fixed bed reactor. The objectives of this study were to compare the yields and properties of bio-oils produced using SP and FP methods within a pyrolysis temperature range of 400 °C to 600 °C. Three different biomass compositions, 100% rice husks (RH), 100% coconut shells (CS) and a mixture of 50% rice husks with 50% of coconut shells (RH50/CS50) were experimented. In SP, the maximum yield of bio-oil for RH, CS and RH50/CS50 were 45.45%, 37.01%, 38.29% at temperatures of 550 °C, 500 °C and 600 °C respectively. As for FP, the maximum bio-oil yield obtained for RH, CS and RH50/CS50 were 50.52%, 40.14% and 42.25% at temperatures of 500 °C, 600 °C and 550 °C respectively. At these optimum pyrolysis temperatures, the percentage differences in bio oil yields for SP and FP were 10.57%, 8.11% and 9.83% for RH, CS and RH50/CS50 respectively. Based on American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standard procedures, the properties of bio-oil were characterised and it was found that the bio oil produced by FP at optimum temperatures were less acidic, higher density, lower water content and viscosity as compared to the bio-oil produced by SP method for all biomass compositions.

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Utilisation of poultry industry wastes for liquid biofuel production via thermal and catalytic fast pyrolysis

Waste Management & Research ◽

10.1177/0734242x18799870 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 37 (2) ◽

pp. 157-167 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Ismail Cem Kantarli ◽

Stylianos D Stefanidis ◽

Konstantinos G Kalogiannis ◽

Angelos A Lappas

Keyword(s):

Lignocellulosic Biomass ◽

Poultry Litter ◽

Fast Pyrolysis ◽

Fixed Bed ◽

Pilot Scale ◽

Biofuel Production ◽

Fluidised Bed ◽

Nitrogenous Compounds ◽

Catalytic Fast Pyrolysis ◽

Bio Oil

The objective of this study was to examine the potential of poultry wastes to be used as feedstock in non-catalytic and catalytic fast pyrolysis processes, which is a continuation of our previous research on their conversion into biofuel via slow pyrolysis and hydrothermal conversion. Both poultry meal and poultry litter were examined, initially in a fixed bed bench-scale reactor using ZSM-5 and MgO as catalysts. Pyrolysis of poultry meal yielded high amounts of bio-oil, while pyrolysis of poultry litter yielded high amounts of solid residue owing to its high ash content. MgO was found to be more effective for the deoxygenation of bio-oil and reduction of undesirable compounds, by converting mainly the acids in the pyrolysis vapours of poultry meal into aliphatic hydrocarbons. ZSM-5 favoured the formation of both aromatic compounds and undesirable nitrogenous compounds. Overall, all bio-oil samples from the pyrolysis of poultry wastes contained relatively high amounts of nitrogen compared with bio-oils from lignocellulosic biomass, ca. 9 wt.% in the case of poultry meal and ca. 5–8 wt.% in the case of poultry litter. This was attributed to the high nitrogen content of the poultry wastes, unlike that of lignocellulosic biomass. Poultry meal yielded the highest amount of bio-oil and was selected as optimum feedstock to be scaled-up in a semi-pilot scale fluidised bed biomass pyrolysis unit with the ZSM-5 catalyst. Pyrolysis in the fluidised bed reactor was more efficient for deoxygenation of the bio-oil vapours, as evidenced from the lower oxygen content of the bio-oil.

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