Pressurised pyrolysis of Miscanthus using a fixed bed reactor

• Published in: Bioresource technology Vol. 102; no. 3; pp. 3466 - 3470
• Main Authors: Melligan, F., Auccaise, R., Novotny, E.H., Leahy, J.J., Hayes, M.H.B., Kwapinski, W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.02.2011; [New York, NY]: Elsevier Ltd; Elsevier
• Subjects: Andropogon - chemistry; Bio-oil; Biofuels - analysis; Biological and medical sciences; Bioreactors; Biotechnology; Char; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Heating - instrumentation; Methods. Procedures. Technologies; Miscanthus; Phenols - analysis; Plant Oils - analysis; Pressure; Pyrolysis; Pyrolytic-oil; Various methods and equipments; Miscanthus; Pyrolysis; Char; Pyrolytic-oil; Bio-oil; Monocotyledones; Fixed bed reactor; Biomass; Pressurizing; Carbonization; Oil; Gramineae; Angiospermae; Spermatophyta
• ISSN: 0960-8524; 1873-2976
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2010.10.129

Miscanthus x giganteus was pyrolysed, in a fixed bed reactor in a constant flow of dinitrogen gas, at a rate of 13°C/min from ambient to 550°C, then held for 25min at this temperature. The pressures employed ranged from atmospheric to 26bar. The major compounds identified in the bio-oil were water, phenol, and phenol derivatives. The water contents impact on the usefulness of the bio-oil as a fuel. However, the phenols could provide useful platform chemicals and products. The properties of the char were determined using elemental analyses, surface area measurements using the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller equation, a calorimetric bomb, Scanning Electron Microscopy, and solid state 13C NMR spectroscopy. The chars were highly carbonised, especially at the higher pressures, and provided thermally stable materials. Pressure impacted greatly on the surface area. Char formed at atmospheric pressure had a surface area of 162m2/g, whereas that from the highest pressure applied was only 0.137m2/g.