Catalytic pyrolysis of tulip tree (Liriodendron) in bubbling fluidized-bed reactor for upgrading bio-oil using dolomite catalyst

• Published in: Energy (Oxford) Vol. 162; pp. 564 - 575
• Main Authors: Ly, Hoang Vu, Lim, Dong-Hyeon, Sim, Jae Wook, Kim, Seung-Soo, Kim, Jinsoo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.11.2018; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Biodiesel fuels; Biomass; Bubbling; Bubbling fluidized-bed; Carbon dioxide; Catalysis; Catalysts; Deoxygenation; Dolomite; Dolomite catalyst; Flow rates; Flow velocity; Fluidized beds; Fractional catalytic pyrolysis; Heat conductivity; Liriodendron; Oil; Oils & fats; Pyrolysis; Reactors; Silica; Silicon dioxide; Temperature; Trees; Tulip tree; Tulip tree; Fractional catalytic pyrolysis; Dolomite catalyst; Bubbling fluidized-bed
• ISSN: 0360-5442; 1873-6785
• DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2018.08.001

Fractional catalytic pyrolysis is an updated pyrolysis method, in which the biomass can be converted into higher quality bio-oil by upgrading the pyrolysis vapor in fluidized bed. In this study, the fast pyrolysis of tulip tree (Liriodendron) was performed in a bubbling fluidized-bed reactor under various reaction conditions (pyrolysis temperature, flow rate of fluidizing medium, and biomass particle size) to investigate the effects of these parameters on product yield and bio-oil quality. The system used silica sand and dolomite as the fluidizing bed material, and nitrogen as the fluidizing medium. When the pyrolysis temperature increased from 400 °C to 550 °C, the bio-oil yield was between 40.07 wt% and 49.03 wt% compared to those of 28.38 and 44.83 wt% using dolomite catalyst. Deoxygenation of bio-oil mostly produced water, and produced lower amounts of CO and CO2, but higher amounts of H2 and hydrocarbons gas. The catalytic process obtaineda high ratio of H2/CO in the gas product. •Pyrolysis of tulip tree in fluidized bed reactor under different conditions.•Catalytic pyrolysis using dolomite catalyst for upgrading bio-oil's quality.•Dolomite rejected oxygen from pyrolysis vapor, mostly through dehydration.•The catalytic process produced high H2/CO ratio in the gas product.