Fast pyrolysis of biomass with activated alumina

Abstract

In this study, corncob was chosen as a biomass sample and the pyrolysis of this sample was carried out with or without catalyst at different conditions in a well-swept fixed-bed reactor. In the experimental studies, firstly the raw material was analysed for its moisture, ash, volatile matter and fixed carbon. Then, experiments were conducted with a heating rate of 700 °C/min, mean particle size and between 300-800 °C pyrolysis temperatures with or without catalyst. The catalytic experiments involved a dry mixing of the catalyst with the biomass using an in bed-mode in the nitrogen atmosphere. In the experimental studies, influence of catalyst and temperature on the corncob products was investigated. According to the experimental results; maximum bio-oil yield was obtained as 36.1% and 34.8% with or without catalyst at a pyrolysis temperature of 500°C, respectively. The use of catalyst showed its cracking effect at higher temperatures and the gas yield increased above pyrolysis temperature of 500 °C. Pyrolysis oils were examined by using elemental analysis and GC/MS. According to all results; the use of catalyst can be suggested in the pyrolysis to obtain both good quality fuels and valuable chemicals. Copyright © 2011 by ASME.