The Optimization of Plasma Catalytic Liquefaction Technique for the Conversion of Sawdust Into Value-Added Chemicals

Feng Liu,Meiling Cai,Sen Wang,Danhua Mei,Shiyun Liu,Zhi Fang

doi:10.1109/access.2019.2962243

Feng Liu, Meiling Cai + Show 4 more

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https://doi.org/10.1109/access.2019.2962243

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Abstract

Non-thermal plasma is an alternative technology of exploiting biomass for efficient production of value added energy carriers. In this study, plasma catalytic liquefaction (PCL) system is successfully developed to achieve rapid and efficient liquefaction of sawdust in the presence of co-solvent polyethylene glycol 200 (PEG 200) and glycerin as well as the acid catalyst H 2 SO 4 . The influences of different operating factors such as the catalyst concentration, reaction time, molar ratio of PEG 200 and glycerin and the power supply are investigated in terms of the liquefaction yield and solution temperature, while the roles of the applied voltage and the duty cycle of power supply in the PCL process are discussed in detail. Experimental results show that the sawdust could be completely liquefied into crude bio-oil with a high heating value (HHV) of 19.18 MJ/kg in the mixture containing sawdust and solvent in a ratio of 1/7, and 1 wt.% catalyst H 2 SO 4 . Increasing the applied voltage and duty cycle are more efficient giving higher yield of liquid products. Based on the analysis of the processing conditions, suggested that the enhanced performance of the PCL process is linked to the superiority of heating that induced by electric field and the presence of quantities reactive species during the plasma discharge. The physiochemical characteristics of the biomass sample and the liquefied products are interpreted by using elemental analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and the identities and concentration of the liquid products are determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS).

Highlights

The rapid development of the economy in modern society together with the increasing population has resulted in a huge demand for energy
A plasma catalytic liquefaction system is employed to facilitate the direct liquefaction of sawdust in a solvent blend of polyethylene glycol 200 (PEG 200) and glycerin and using the concentrated sulfuric acid as the catalyst, with the aim to enhance the reaction efficiency and yield of biomass liquefaction and to evaluate the individual physical and chemical properties as the function of different operating factors. Both liquid and solid products obtained after the plasma biomass processing are characterized using elemental analysis, thermos-gravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS)
The mixtures of PEG 200 and glycerol were used as the solvent for liquefaction, whilst concentrate concentrated sulfuric acid was applied as the catalyst

Summary

INTRODUCTION

The rapid development of the economy in modern society together with the increasing population has resulted in a huge demand for energy. A plasma catalytic liquefaction system is employed to facilitate the direct liquefaction of sawdust in a solvent blend of polyethylene glycol 200 (PEG 200) and glycerin and using the concentrated sulfuric acid as the catalyst, with the aim to enhance the reaction efficiency and yield of biomass liquefaction and to evaluate the individual physical and chemical properties as the function of different operating factors (e.g. applied voltage, duty cycle of power supply, catalyst concentration, reaction time and the molar ratio of PEG 200 and glycerin) Both liquid and solid products obtained after the plasma biomass processing are characterized using elemental analysis, thermos-gravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS)

MATERIAL AND METHODS

MATERIAL CHARACTERIZATION

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION