Engineering Commons^™

A Review Of 30 Years Of Research Using The Cpd Model, Thomas H. Fletcher

Faculty Publications

The chemical percolation devolatilization (CPD) model for coal pyrolysis was first published in 1989, and a completed version that included the vapor–liquid equilibrium model and cross-linking model was published in 1992. The CPD model was one of three pyrolysis models developed using a lattice model to account for the chemical structure of the coal and was directly based on solid-state ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements of the coal structure. A correlation of coal structure parameters measured by NMR spectroscopy was performed to permit use of the CPD model to determine pyrolysis rates and yields of tars and light …

Changes In Pore Size Distribution With Pyrolysis Temperature, Particle Aspect Ratio And Pretreatment By Leaching Of Large Beech Wood Particles, Przemyslaw Maziarka, Peter Sommersacher, Stefan Retschitzegger, Wolter Prins, Frederik Ronsse

Bio-Char II: Production, Characterization and Applications

When assessing the usefulness of pyrolysis chars as porous materials for the application as adsorbents, catalysts or catalyst supports, one of the most important parameters of the assessment, besides the specific surface area, is their pore size distribution [1, 2]. The aforementioned processes are highly pore size selective, hence inappropriate pores sizes of the applied material can lead to the material’s uselessness for a given application. In terms of the application of pyrolysis char as a soil amendment (i.e., biochar), pore size also plays a major role. For example, in case of a too large share of micropores, even though …

Effect Of Pyrolysis Conditions On Sewage Sludge Derived Biochars For High Value Composites Applications, Paola Giudicianni, Maurizio Troiano, Roberto Solimene, Raffaele Ragucci, Mauro Giorcelli, Alberto Tagliaferro, Mattia Bartoli

Bio-Char II: Production, Characterization and Applications

The economy of the whole wastewater treatment system is significantly burdened by the increasing amounts of sewage sludge due to the progressive implementation of the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC and by the complexity of the treatments required for guaranteeing a safe handling and a proper end-of-life of the sludge. For this reason, thermal treatments of sewage sludge have been studied in the past for their efficient valorization in terms of energy and/or matter recovery. Among them, pyrolysis represents a viable route aiming at the recycling of resources without production of harmful substances to the humans or the environment. …

Biochar Production Though Combined Solar Drying & Single Chamber Pyrolysis, Dirk Weichgrebe, Moni M Mondal, Rahul Ramesh Nair

Bio-Char II: Production, Characterization and Applications

In this study, the challenging management of fibrous organic wastes (FOW) and dewatered municipal sewage sludge (MSS) in urban areas of Asia’s newly industrialised countries is presented with high energy efficiency, negative CO₂ balance and biochar generation. This study investigates the feasibility and benefits of a combined treatment approach for both of the substrates, comprising solar drying (SD) and pyrolysis process (PYR). Based on material investigations, a calculation model is developed to project the material and energy flows of this process combination on the example of Chennai, India.

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Influence Of Heating Rate On The Solid Yield Of Biomass Pyrolysis, Markus Lang, Kathrin Weber, Peter Quicker

Bio-Char II: Production, Characterization and Applications

The use of biochar has become increasingly popular over the last decade. The possible applications are vast and range from renewable carbon carrier in industrial and energetic applications to soil amendment and fodder additive. The various applications have different demands on the properties of biochar. These can be influenced by the choice of feedstock, reactor and production conditions. Regardless of production process and application however, achieving a high yield of the solid product is desirable from an economic point of view. The higher the treatment temperature, the more material is devolatilized and the lower is the amount of biochar that …

Influence Of Feedstock And Operational Conditions On Bio-Chars Derived From The Pyrolysis Of Selected Biomasses, David Chiaramonti, David Casini, Giovanni Ferraro, Emiliano Fratini, Giuditta Pecori, Andrea Maria Rizzo, Luca Rosi

Bio-Char II: Production, Characterization and Applications

The proprieties of bio-char, the solid product from biomass pyrolysis, depends on both the feedstock and process conditions during thermochemical conversion^[1]. As regards the interaction of the char with soil (i.e. as soil amendment), surface areas, size and shape of pores are among the most important factors to be considered.

^[1] P. R. Bonelli , G. Nunell , M. E. Fernández , E. L. Buonomo & A. L. Cukierman

(2012) The Potential Applications of the Bio-char Derived from the Pyrolysis of an Agro-industrial

Waste. Effects of Temperature and Acid-pretreatment, Energy Sources, Part A: Recovery,

Utilization, and Environmental Effects, …

Synthesis And Use Of Bio-Based Dielectric Substrate For Implanted Radio Frequency Antennas, Austin Tesser, Ala Alemaryeen, Jeremy Lewis, Ali Alshami, Meysam Haghshenas, Sima Noghanian

Chemical Engineering Faculty Publications

Equipped with precision sensors/antenna modules combined with integrated processing and telemetry circuitry, wireless implants that are both biocompatible and biodegradable are important devices for monitoring patient's conditions and patient's safety. In this article we report on the development, design, and testing of a bio-based monopole radio frequency (RF) sensor/antenna module for potential use in human health applications. The module is built on a dielectric substrate biocomposite made of 0.5:1.0 ratio of polylactic acid (PLA) to sunflower carbon substrate (SCS) produced via pyrolysis of seeds shells. Findings for the SCS include optimized reactor yields around 7.9 wt.% at 500°C, a 0.27:1.0 …

Evaluation Of The Antifungal Activity Of Cattle Manure Bio-Oil, Matheus Pinheiro Carvalho, Alberto Wisnievski Junior, Ingred Suellen Carvalho Carregosa, Wyllian Winckler Sartori, Maria Lucileide Nogueira Santos Ramos

Pyroliq 2019: Pyrolysis and Liquefaction of Biomass and Wastes

Plant diseases are a threat to the health and functionality of both natural and man-made ecosystems. Diverse methods and strategies are being employed to prevent, ameliorate or control plant diseases. Unsustainable practices such as use and misuse of synthetic fungicides have caused severe harm to human health, wildlife and the environment (1). Fungal cause the most destructive plant diseases and impose major losses to both natural and production systems, and one of it is the fungi. Botanical fungicides are particularly sought after because they are abundant, selective, readily degraded, and are not toxic to mammals (2).

Bio-oils produced by rotatory …

Anaerobic Digestion Of The Aqueous Pyrolysis Condensate, Franco Berruti, Cesar Miguel Moreira Valenzuela, Lars Rehmann, Connie Wen

Pyroliq 2019: Pyrolysis and Liquefaction of Biomass and Wastes

Fractional condensation of biomass pyrolysis vapors allows the segregation of different pyrolysis fractions and a separation of an aqueous pyrolysis condensate from an organic rich dry bio-oil fraction. Aqueous pyrolysis condensate is often referred at as “wood vinegar” or “pyroligneous acid” since it contains 70-80% water together with 10-20% acetic acid, and smaller quantities of acetone and methanol mixed with hundreds of other chemicals in small concentrations. Such aqueous pyrolysis condensate cannot be easily disposed of, and it may represent a valuable resource. For example, the significant percentage of acetic acid offers the opportunity to attempt its conversion into methane …

Pyrolysis Of Aerobic Sewage Sludge, Green Wastes And Refuse Derived Fuels At High Temperatures In Bubbling Fluidized Bed Reactor, Sid Ahmed Kessas, Mehrdji Hémati, Thomas Esteves

Pyroliq 2019: Pyrolysis and Liquefaction of Biomass and Wastes

Effect of temperature during Flash Pyrolysis of solid wastes (Green wastes -GW-, sewage sludge -SS- and refuse-derived fuels -RDF-) in inert atmosphere was investigated in the present study. Pyrolysis was carried out in a dense fluidized bed reactor of laboratory scale (2.5 m height, 0.214 m inner diameter) where wastes are fed continuously. Experiments were conducted at temperatures between 700 and 900°C with different types of fluidized media to highlight the effect of these parameters as well as the influence of the waste nature on gas production rate and carbon distribution into pyrolysis products. For instance, the syngas produced during …

Environmental Assessment Of Pyrolysis In Biorefineries Based On Palm Oil Wastes, Electo Eduardo Silva Lora, York Castillo Santiago, Eric Alberto Ocampo Battle, José Carlos Escobar Palacio, Osvaldo José Venturini, Diego Mauricio Yepes Maya, Alberto Albis Arrieta

Pyroliq 2019: Pyrolysis and Liquefaction of Biomass and Wastes

The oil palm industry is one of the largest producers of residual biomass, leading to environmental and economic concerns. For this reason, the concept of biorefinery is emerging as a means to create new ways of converting biomass into new types of renewable products bioenergetics that can contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gases. In this context, this document presents a study that consisting of a biorefinery configuration in a Palm Oil Mill (POM), considering the fast pyrolysis process to produce bio-oil and biochar, and an extraction / trans-esterification stage to produce biodiesel and glycerin in the POM. The environmental …

Pyrolysis Of Polyethylene-Lined Waste Paper Cups, Franco Berruti, Connie Wen, Lars Rehmann, Cesar Miguel Moreira Valenzuela

Pyroliq 2019: Pyrolysis and Liquefaction of Biomass and Wastes

Fractional condensation of biomass pyrolysis vapors allows the segregation of different pyrolysis fractions and a separation of an aqueous pyrolysis condensate from an organic rich dry bio-oil fraction. Aqueous pyrolysis condensate is often referred at as “wood vinegar” or “pyroligneous acid” since it contains 70-80% water together with 10-20% acetic acid, and smaller quantities of acetone and methanol mixed with hundreds of other chemicals in small concentrations. Such aqueous pyrolysis condensate cannot be easily disposed of, and it may represent a valuable resource. For example, the significant percentage of acetic acid offers the opportunity to attempt its conversion into methane …

Thermolysis Of Plastic Waste: Reactor Comparison, Muhammad Saad Qureshi, Anja Oasmaa, Christian Lindfors

Pyroliq 2019: Pyrolysis and Liquefaction of Biomass and Wastes

Plastic waste offers an attractive business opportunity if treated intelligently. Presently, owing to the lack of economically viable recycling solutions and political interest, this valuable feedstock is bound for an ill-fated destiny i.e. landfills and inefficient incineration. Landfilling plastic waste is rather a storage mechanism than a prevention mechanism. Plastics can stay in ground and in oceans for hundreds of years without decomposing, posing serious environmental hazards. Given the complexity of the plastic waste mixture and heterogeneity of waste streams, a single recycling solution is improbable; however, the current environmental situation demands an urgent need to find ways to tackle …

Challenges And Progresses Made On The Microkinetic Description Of Lignin Liquefaction: Application Of Group Contribution Methods, Manuel Garcia-Perez, Evan Terrell, Linda Broadbelt

Pyroliq 2019: Pyrolysis and Liquefaction of Biomass and Wastes

In this presentation a comprehensive microkinetic modelling framework and experimental tools are used to describe product yield and composition of direct lignin liquefaction processes with and without solvents (See Figure 1). With the framework proposed we aim to develop a unified theory and models capable of describing both dry (pyrolysis) and wet (hydrothermal and solvolysis) lignin liquefaction processes. An important phenomenon that has been shown to occur during lignin pyrolysis (as well as cellulose) is the formation of a liquid intermediate phase, and subsequent ejection of heavy products (>~250 Da) as aerosols from this intermediate. In our presentation we …

Pyrolysis Of Lignin-Rich Biomass For Renewable Aromatics, Materials Paul De Wild

Pyroliq 2019: Pyrolysis and Liquefaction of Biomass and Wastes

Currently, several national projects are conducted as an activity along the thermochemical horizon towards functionalized aromatics from lignin and lignin-rich biomass sources in the framework of the BIORIZON shared research center in the south of the Netherlands [1]. Regarding the pyrolytic valorization of lignin-rich biomass towards aromatic chemicals for various applications, it is thought that the collection of pyrolysis vapors in separate fractions [2] offers interesting opportunities for valorization, e.g. towards (additives for) bitumen, resins, rubber and specific marine biofuels. For these high market volume – medium market value products, earlier work has revealed that the application of lignin as …

Co2 Participation In Cross-Linking Reactions And Char Formation During Bio-Oil Pyrolysis, Farid Chejne, Javier Alonso Ordoñez, Carlos F. Valdes

Pyroliq 2019: Pyrolysis and Liquefaction of Biomass and Wastes

The integration of new CO2 capture and storage technologies into energy generation processes has led to the development and study of the oxy-fuel combustion, in which the nitrogen in the air is replaced by recirculated CO2 that facilitates its capture and storage to reduce polluting emissions. Currently, the integration of oxy-fuel technologies with the use of new fuels such as bio-oil obtained from the pyrolysis of biomass is a topic of interest. In this case, the CO2 content surrounding the bio-oil droplets modifies the pyrolysis mechanism due to barriers in the diffusion of light volatiles at low temperatures (less than …

Production Of Ethyl Acetate From Pyrolysis Of Lignin Model Compound Guaiacylglycerol-Β-Guaiacyl Using Tga-Ms, Mark J. Kelly, Andrew D. Ure, Stephen Dooley

Pyroliq 2019: Pyrolysis and Liquefaction of Biomass and Wastes

Due to the complex chemical structure of lignin, the fundamental chemistry underlying its pyrolysis behaviour is poorly understood. A detailed knowledge of this chemistry would allow for the construction of detailed predictive chemical kinetic models, which could be used to maximise the efficiency of the pyrolysis process.

Lignin is comprised of three monolignols, guaiacyl, p-hydroxyphenyl and syringyl. These are joined together by aryl ether linkages of which β-O-4 is the most common, representing approximately 50% of the linkages found in lignin.^[1] In this study, pyrolysis (20^oC/minute heating rate) was carried out on a lignin model compound, guaiacylglycerol-β-guaiacyl …

Biofuels From Waste To Road Transport, Marine Peyrot, Johnny Stuen, Robbie Venderbosh, Wolfgang Hofer, Hank Vleeming, Mauro F. Sgroi, Yves Schuurman, Duncan Akporiaye

Pyroliq 2019: Pyrolysis and Liquefaction of Biomass and Wastes

Biofuels from Waste to Road (WASTE2ROAD) is an EU funded project under the Grant Agreement No. 818120 within the LC-SC3-RES-21-2018 call, “Development of next generation biofuels and alternative renewable fuel technologies for road transport”, as a Research and Innovation Action of the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Programme. The project started in the fall 2018 and will run for 4 years.

In 2014, total waste production in the EU amounted to 2.5 billion tons. From this total only a limited (albeit increasing) share (36%) was recycled, while the rest was landfilled or burned, of which some 600 million tons could have …

Correlations Of The Elemental Compositions Of Primary Coal Tar And Char, Andrew P. Richards, Colson Johnson, Thomas H. Fletcher

Faculty Publications

Simulations of large-scale coal combustors rely on accurate submodels to describe the chemical and physical changes in coal during reaction. Typically, simplified empirical submodels are tuned to experimental data to reduce the computational complexity. When data are not readily available, simplifying assumptions are used, which can create inaccuracies and biases in a large simulation. One such simplifying assumption in coal research is how to describe the elemental composition of primary pyrolysis products. This paper explores several different empirical model forms to predict the dry, ash-free fractions of C, H, O, N, and S in both the char and tar, using …

Pyrolysis Kinetics Of Live And Dead Wildland Vegetation From The Southern United States, Elham Amini, Mohammad-Saeed Safdari, David R. Weise, Thomas H. Fletcher

Faculty Publications

The fundamental combustion behavior of live wildland vegetation is not fully understood. Since the combustion process during wildland fire starts with pyrolysis, there is a need for better understanding of pyrolysis to develop improved wildland fire models. The kinetics of pyrolysis of live and dead wildland vegetation has not been explored in detail. In this study, the pyrolysis kinetics were determined for 14 different plant species (live and dead) which are all native to the forests in the southern United States. Pyrolysis experiments were carried out in a Thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) under inert conditions at 5 different heating rates ranged …