Utilization of camellia oleifera shell for production of valuable products by pyrolysis

Abstract

Camellia oleifera shell is used as the feedstock to prepare the valuable products by pyrolysis using microwave heating at 400-800 °C. The yield of pyrolysis product is influenced by pyrolysis temperature, which indicates that high pyrolysis temperature promotes to generate bio-gas and restrains the production of biochar. However, pyrolysis temperature little influences the yield of bio-oil. The main compound of bio-oil is phenols, hydrocarbons, ketones, aldehydes and furans, respectively. While, bio-oil produced at 600 °C has as high as 78 % of phenols, which has potential application in chemical industries. The pyrolysis temperature has significantly influenced the composition and heating value of bio-gas. The maximum heating value of bio-gas is 12.44 MJ/Nm3, which is achieved at 600 °C. The physiochemical properties of biochar are also influenced by pyrolysis temperature. Biochar could be used as an adsorbent to adsorb Ag+ from aqueous solution, which is formed the value-added ABiochar composite by reduction. The adsorption and reduction process of Ag+ are investigated. While, ABiochar composite can be used as the catalyst for methylene blue degradation. ABiochar composite can be also used in the lithium ion battery cathode material for energy storage.