Экспериментальное исследование СВЧ-пиролиза торфа

Abstract

The work is devoted to the study of the destruction of the top sphagnum peat layer due to microwave radiation. For the analysis of physical and chemical processes, a laboratory setup was created on the basis of a coaxial resonator-reactor having a geometry that ensures a uniform distribution of the microwave field in the reactor volume. An industrial magnetron having a frequency of 2.45 GHz and a power of up to 1 kW was used as a source of microwave radiation. In laboratory studies with a relatively small amount of peat (~ 100 g), the advantage of the created setup consists in the ability to quickly achieve the necessary temperature for the pyrolysis reaction at a relatively low level of microwave power (~ 100 W) in these experiments. The analysis of the products obtained during the reaction was carried out using a gas chromatography mass spectrometer. The research was aimed at creating highly-efficient environmentallyfriendly technologies for processing biofuels characterised by a high yield of combustible gases suitable for further use in industrial power plants, as well as for obtaining a resinous fraction for the production of light hydrocarbons and a carbon residue for modern highly efficient sorbents. On the basis of the experimental setup, studies were carried out on soft microwave pyrolysis of peat at a temperature of 250 °C under constant removal of gaseous reaction products. Samples of solid, liquid and gas phases presenting valuable carbon residues, oily fractions and a pyrolysis gas, respectively, were obtained and analysed. The article examines the possibility for industrial application of reaction products. The chemical composition of the r eaction products during both microwave and “traditional” pyrolysis with thermal heating is compared. The composition of the gases released during microwave pyrolysis is characterised by the absence of heavy toxic gases often accompanying the process of “traditional” thermal pyrolysis. Reducing the amount of toxic gases improves the environmental component of production. This circumstance indicates the prospects of microwave pyrolysis for industrial processing of organic materials. The authors declare no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this article.