Close-coupled pyrolysis and catalytic upgrading of sugarcane bagasse was carried out in a laboratory-scale apparatus under different process conditions to determine the effect of pyrolysis reactor heating rate, upgrading temperature and biomass particle size on the yield of liquid organic products. Heating rates of 40–60°C·min–1, upgrading temperatures of 385–500°C and 300–1500µm particles were used. A conventional and gallium-doped HZSM-5 catalyst was employed. Liquid product yields were in the range of 10–25%. Lower heating rates and upgrading temperatures as well as larger particle sizes gave the best liquid organic product yields. The addition of gallium to the catalyst resulted in an improved yield of benzene. The deoxygenation activity with respect to phenolic compounds remained relatively unchanged.
