Fast Pyrolysis of Soy Hulls in a Fluidized Bed Reactor: Main Components of the Bio-Oil
The fast pyrolysis is an efficient and promising process of thermal decomposition. The process consists in the reaction of organic materials in the total or partial absence of oxygen to produce condensable vapor, non-condensable gases and char. Bio-oil is generated after vapor condensation and it can be converted into fuels and/or chemicals. Fast pyrolysis of soy hulls was conducted in a batch reactor fluidized bed, made of stainless steel, with internal diameter of 78 mm and 1069 mm height. The fast pyrolysis of soy hulls, mixed with inert (sand), was carried out at approximately 550 °C. Atmosphere with high nitrogen concentration was used. The present study aimed to investigate the chemical composition of the soy hulls bio-oil using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry techniques.