Low-temperature pyrolysis products of waste cork and lignocellulosic biomass: product characterization

Abstract

In recent years, there has been growing interest in the pyrolysis of biomass due to economic and environmental reasons. Low-temperature pyrolysis is one of the most straightforward and low-cost pyrolysis processes that may be used to produce added-value biochars as well as liquid and gas products from waste biomass. Lignocellulosic biomass obtained from the fractionation of Quercus cerris bark including cork-rich and phloem-rich granules were subjected to low-temperature pyrolysis (250–325 °C) and the resulting pyrolysis products were examined. The results showed that 59–90% biochar, 8–24% bio-oil, and 2–16% gas products could be obtained from the waste cork, while phloem results in 53–89% biochar, 8–21% bio-oil, and 3–30% gas. The produced chars are rich sources of calcium, magnesium, and potassium and these elements are concentrated in the char as the pyrolysis temperature increases. The pyrolysis condensates contain high amounts of lignin-derived phenolic compounds with 2-methoxy phenol being the most abundant compound.