Potential of Virginia Mallow as an Energy Feedstock

S W Banks,A V Bridgwater,M Śnieg,M Stolarski,D J Nowakowski

doi:10.1007/s12649-020-01183-2

S W Banks, A V Bridgwater + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1007/s12649-020-01183-2

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Abstract

This study aims to compare the potential of Virginia mallow to other high yielding perennial grasses and hardwoods by characterising and comparing fast pyrolysis product yields. Feedstocks selected for this study include miscanthus (Miscanthus x giganteus), Virginia mallow (Sida hermaphrodita), willow short rotation coppice (SRC) (Salix viminalis) and oak (Quercus robur). The experimental work was split into two sections: analytical (Py–GC–MS) and laboratory-scale processing using a 300 g h−1 continuous bubbling fluidised bed reactor. Pyrolysis–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (Py–GC–MS) has been used to quantify pyrolysis products from these feedstocks by simulating fast pyrolysis heating rates using a CDS 5200 pyrolyser closed coupled to a PerkinElmer Clarus 680 GC–MS. High bio-oil yields were achieved for Virginia mallow, willow SRC and oak (65.36, 62.55 and 66.43 wt% respectively), but miscanthus only produced a yield of 53.46 wt% due to increased feedstock ash content. The water content in the bio-oil is highest from miscanthus (17.64 wt%) and relatively low in the Virginia mallow and hardwoods willow SRC and oak (12.49, 13.88 and 14.53 wt%). Similar high yields of bio-oil and low yields of char and non-condensable gas compared to willow SRC make Virginia mallow an attractive feedstock for fast pyrolysis processing.Graphic

Highlights

Renewable energy sources from biomass are becoming more critical when considering the reduction of environmental concerns from fossil fuels from carbon dioxide emissions
Heating value (MJ k g−1) higher heating value (HHV) low heating value (LHV) “H:C” atomic ratio “O:C” atomic ratio d.b. dry bases, n/d not detected a Calculated by difference
Analytical and laboratory-scale fast pyrolysis has been used to compare the potential of Virginia mallow as an energy feedstock with other high yielding perennial grasses and hardwoods

Summary

Introduction

Renewable energy sources from biomass are becoming more critical when considering the reduction of environmental concerns from fossil fuels from carbon dioxide emissions. It has been widely accepted that climate change is occurring due to the combustion of fossil fuels resulting in the accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere [1, 2]. Renewable and alternative energy sources are keys to the solution of a twin problem, energy and climate change but require a high initial investment. One of these approaches is fast pyrolysis which is capable of producing petroleumlike products and higher value chemicals from renewable sources. The products are bio-oil, non-condensable gases and char

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