Pyrolysis of napier grass in an induction-heating reactor

Abstract

In this work, the yield and chemical characterization of pyrolytic products from the induction-heating pyrolysis of napier grass, one of potential energy grasses, have been studied at the specified conditions. Although the yields of bio-oil and char were a little related to the feedstock size less than 1 mm, it was observed that the yield of liquid products increased with heating rates ranging from 50 to 150 °C/min. Using the gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS), the analytical results showed that the bio-oils were acidic and dark brown liquids with complex mixtures of organic compounds, including acetic acid and a large variety of oxygenated and nitrogenated compounds such as phenols, pyridines, pyrazoles, imidazoles, amines, and ketones. These organic hydrocarbons should be derived from the biopolymer textures of napier grass. On the other hand, the non-condensed devolatilization fractions were primarily composed of 3-methyl-1,2-butadiene, furans and one-ring aromatic compounds.