Analytical pyrolysis (Py–GC/MS) of corn stover, bean pod, sugarcane bagasse, and pineapple crown leaves for biorefining

Abstract

Pyrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass is a renewable way to obtain densified energy and increase the raw material value in three different products: biochar, bio-oil, and gas. Agricultural waste is a promising biomass due to its high availability, especially in tropical countries, and lack of destination besides combustion. The bioenergy and biorefining potential were evaluated for four agricultural wastes: corn stover (CS), bean pods (BP), sugarcane bagasse (SCB), and pineapple crowns leaves (PCL) through an extensive physical and chemical characterization by proximate, ultimate and compositional analysis, high heating value (HHV), ash chemical composition, thermogravimetric analysis and analytical pyrolysis through Py–GC/MS. The results show that the biomasses present high HHV (16.1–19.3 MJ kg−1), low moisture and ash content, and high volatile content (77.8–82.8%), which are great characteristics for bio-oil production. According to Py–GC/MS results, the main pyrolysis products were phenols, furans, and C1–C4 oxygenated compounds. CS and BP presented a high phenolics yield (26.5%), which could be potentially recovered through biorefining. PCL showed the greatest energetic potential due to its highest HHV and could generate a high-quality fuel after deoxygenation routes. The bio-oil of these biomasses is a potential source of value-added chemicals after biorefining routes.