Bio-oil and bio-char production from corn cobs and stover by fast pyrolysis

• Published in: Biomass & bioenergy Vol. 34; no. 1; pp. 67 - 74
• Main Authors: Mullen, Charles A., Boateng, Akwasi A., Goldberg, Neil M., Lima, Isabel M., Laird, David A., Hicks, Kevin B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 2010; Elsevier
• Subjects: Alternative fuels. Production and utilization; Applied sciences; Bio-char; Bio-oil; biochar; biofuels; Biomass; biorefining; charcoal; chemical reactions; coproducts; corn cobs; corn stover; costs and returns; crop residues; Energy; energy density; Exact sciences and technology; Fluidized bed; fluidized beds; Fuel slurries; Fuels; land application; Natural energy; organic fertilizers; plant byproducts; Pyrolysis; temperature; transportation; waste utilization; yields; Zea mays; Pyrolysis; Zea mays; Bio-char; Bio-oil; Fluidized bed; Fluidized bed reactor; Corn; Biofuel; Biomass; Vegetal waste; Particle size distribution; Char; Production; Water content; Chemical composition; Surface area
• ISSN: 0961-9534; 1873-2909
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biombioe.2009.09.012

Bio-oil and bio-char were produced from corn cobs and corn stover (stalks, leaves and husks) by fast pyrolysis using a pilot scale fluidized bed reactor. Yields of 60% (mass/mass) bio-oil (high heating values are ∼20 MJ kg −1, and densities >1.0 Mg m −3) were realized from both corn cobs and from corn stover. The high energy density of bio-oil, ∼20–32 times on a per unit volume basis over the raw corn residues, offers potentially significant savings in transportation costs particularly for a distributed “farm scale” bio-refinery system. Bio-char yield was 18.9% and 17.0% (mass/mass) from corn cobs and corn stover, respectively. Deploying the bio-char co-product, which contains most of the nutrient minerals from the corn residues, as well as a significant amount of carbon, to the land can enhance soil quality, sequester carbon, and alleviate environmental problems associated with removal of crop residues from fields.