Effects of pressure on biomass pyrolysis. I. Cellulose pyrolysis products

Abstract

A three phase research program, using a tubular, laminar flow, micro reactor system, was undertaken to study the effects of pressure on biomass pyrolysis. Results of the first two phases indicate that increasing pressure increases the yields of char and CO 2, and decreases the yields of CO, CH 4, C 2H 6 and C 3H 6. Increased volatile residence time favors the formation of char, and increases yields of C 2H 6 at the expense of CO and C 3,'s. The addition of small amounts of O 2 reduces the yields of all hydrocarbons, but has little effect on char formation.