Pretreatment of Biomass for Efficient Pyrolysis

Abstract

AbstractThe thermal decomposition of biomass gives three different phase products (liquid, solid, and gaseous). The condition of thermal decomposition of biomass has been dictated the quantity three phase products. Pyrolysis, in general, gives the highest yield of bio-oil. The yield of bio-oil may be enhanced by using a higher heating rate; however, bio-oil has more oxygen and water content which make it not as suitable for direct use as transportation fuel. The quality and quantity of bio-oil depend on biomass physicochemical properties and pyrolysis parameters. The biomass physicochemical properties are moisture content, volatile content, fixed carbon, ash content, higher heating value, grindability, flowability, etc. Similarly, pyrolysis parameters are temperature, heating rate, particle size, residence time, etc. The physicochemical properties of biomass may be improved by several pretreatment processes. The pretreatment process is divided into different types known as a wet pretreatment process (washing/leaching, the steam explosion, hydrothermal) and dry pretreatment process (drying and torrefaction). These pretreatment processes may improve physicochemical properties of biomass so that quality and quantity of bio-oil produced during pyrolysis may be improved.KeywordsBiomassTorrefactionSteam explosionFixed-bed reactorBio-oil