Abstract

Corn stalks were converted to bio-oils by fast pyrolsis in an auger fed reactor at 400 and 450 °C. Both acid-pretreated and untreated corn stalks were pyrolyzed. Proximate and ultimate analyses of the corn stalk feeds and bio-oils were performed, and the bio-oils were characterized by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), gel permeation chromatography (GPC), 13C and 1H NMR spectroscopy, pH, ash, and viscosity measurements, and solids content and water analyses. Corn stalks have lower lignin content than wood, leading to lower bio-oil yields, more water produced and different chemical compositions than pine wood bio-oil generated in the same auger reactor. Acid pretreatment of stalks increased the bio-oil yields and decreased the char yields at both pyrolysis temperatures. Acid-treated stalks had lower water content, and pH, viscosity, and filterable solid values were lower than those of bio-oil from untreated stalks. Several compounds found in the bio-oil from untreated stalks were not detected in...

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