Pyrolysis of two different biomass samples in a fixed-bed reactor combined with two different catalysts

Abstract

Pyrolysis of Euphorbia rigida and sesame stalk biomass samples with two selected commercial catalyst, namely DHC-32 and HC-K 1.3Q, have been conducted in a fixed-bed reactor. The effect of different catalysts and their ratio (5, 10 and 20% w/w) and pyrolysis temperature (500 and 750 °C) on the pyrolysis product yields were investigated and the obtained results were compared with similar experiments without catalyst. Bio-oil yield was increased comparing with non-catalytic experiments, at final pyrolysis temperature of 500 °C for both biomass samples and catalysts. In the catalytic experiments; when the temperature reached to 750 °C, although bio-oil product yield was reduced, the gas product yield was increased comparing with non-catalytic experiments. The pyrolysis oils were examined using spectroscopic and chromatographic analyses and then fractioned by column chromatography. Although the aliphatic and aromatic fractions were decreased and polar fraction was increased with catalytic pyrolysis of E. rigida; an opposite trend was observed in the sesame stalk pyrolysis oil, comparing with non-catalytic results. Obtained results were compared with petroleum fractions and determined the possibility of being a potential source of renewable fuels.