Engineering Commons^™

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 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, …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

Which Policy For Biochar Deployment In Southern Eu? An Integrated Approach Is Possible, David Chiaramonti

Biochar: Production, Characterization and Applications

The scope of the present paper is to address possible policy schemes that could potentially enable widespread diffusion of biochar in the EU Mediterranean area. In fact, despite the rapid development of biochar technologies and processes, the actual exploitation is mostly dependent on the actual support scheme that is in place. However, one single support instrument will unlikely be sufficient to cover the costs connected to biochar production and use: moreover, developing totally new policy instruments is a very long and time consuming process. The approach of the present work is to investigate the possibility of combining different EU policies …

Thermal Evolution Of Biochar And Its Physicochemical Properties During Hydrothermal Gasification, Sonil Nanda, Ajay K. Dalai, Franco Berruti, Janusz A. Kozinski

Biochar: Production, Characterization and Applications

Biochar is a recalcitrant carbonaceous material obtained from pyrolysis and gasification of biomass and other biogenic wastes. Some of the promising biochar applications to be discussed in this presentation includes char gasification and combustion for energy production, soil remediation, carbon sequestration, catalysis, and development of activated carbon and specialty materials with biomedical and industrial uses. Several factors such as pyrolysis/gasification temperature, heating rates and residence time are the limiting factors that determine the biochar properties such as fixed carbon, volatile matter, mineral matter, surface area, porosity and pore size distribution, alkalinity, electrical conductivity, cation-exchange capacity, etc. This paper will comprehensively …

A Novel Solution For Utilizing Liquid Fractions From Slow Pyrolysis And Hydrothermal Carbonization - Acidification Of Animal Slurry, Kimmo Rasa, Jari Hyväluoma, Hanne Wikberg, Anssi Källi, Tapio Salo, Riikka Keskinen

Biochar: Production, Characterization and Applications

Pyrolysis and hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) have recently gained much interest in the field of biomass processing. This is due to the process flexibility with respect to raw materials and the range of potential applications proposed for the end products. In addition to the main product, biochar, the processes yield a liquid fraction that has turned out to be challenging to productize. Considering the feasibility of the thermochemical conversion technologies, it is crucial that all the produced fractions can be utilized reasonably and no waste fractions expensive to dispose remain. In spite of active research and development work, unambiguous uses for …

Pyrolysis Of Cotton Stalks And Utilization Of Pyrolysis Char For Sustainable Soil Enhancement And Carbon Storage, Sebastian Schaffer, Tobias Pröll, Rafat Al Afif, Christoph Pfeifer

Biochar: Production, Characterization and Applications

Worldwide, a large amount of biomass accumulates in the form of ligno-cellulosic agricultural by-products that can neither be efficiently used as animal feed nor as feedstock for anaerobic digestion. A clean and energy-efficient utilization in combustion plants is counter-indicated by high contents of elements like Cl, K and Na that decrease the ash-melting-point and lead to fouling and corrosion. Although this biomass is, therefore, not suitable for conventional combustion plants, a pyrolysis process can be applied that works at lower temperatures of 500-600°C.

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How To Produce A Potential High Value Bio-Char From The Worst Invasive Plant In Canada, Chiara Barbiero, Franco Berruti, Cedric Briens

Biochar: Production, Characterization and Applications

Phragmites Australis is a perennial plant, native to Eurasia, which is spreading worldwide, increasing fire hazards, and causing damage to wildlife and its surrounding habitat. Phragmites is classified as Canada’s worst invasive plant due to the difficulty of achieving its full eradication. Phragmites plants are fast growing and can spread quickly through seeds or rhizomes. They must be processed locally to destroy seeds and rhizomes. For these reasons, mobile pyrolysis was selected as a destruction method that provides valuable bio-char. The aim of this work is to study the effect of different pre-treatment and post-treatment strategies on bio-char characteristics, such …

Biochar Production And Application In The Intermountain West, Darren Mcavoy

Biochar: Production, Characterization and Applications

The Utah Biomass Resources Group (UBRG) has focused on biochar production and application since 2011. We partner with Amaron Energy of Salt Lake City and have developed mobile pyrolysis technology for in-situ biochar production. We have also initiated field trials of biochar application in mining and agricultural settings.

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Integrating Batch Pyrolysis And Fractional Condensation (2d Mfr) To Get High-Value Products From Biomass, Mohammad Hossain, Chiara Barbiero, Ian Scott, Franco Berruti, Cedric Briens

5th International Congress on Green Process Engineering (GPE 2016)

Agricultural crop residues are a source of inexpensive biomass to convert into bioproducts. The recovery of valuable chemicals from plant waste would partly solve the disposal issue and offer a more environmentally friendly alternative to synthetic chemical production. One approach to separate and concentrate valuable chemicals from biomass is pyrolysis using a batch reactor process. A mechanically fluidized reactor (MFR) was developed to pyrolyze biomass from ambient to temperatures near 600 °C, forming gases that are then condensed in an ice-chilled condenser to form a bio-oil. The bio-oil produced by the MFR can be separated within temperature ranges, termed one-dimensional …

Influence Of Pre-Treatment On Grass Pyrolysis For High Value Products, Chiara Barbiero, Charles Greenhalf, Franco Berruti, Cedric Briens

5th International Congress on Green Process Engineering (GPE 2016)

Pyrolysis of biomass is a process which yields high quality, clean, and green products like bio-oil and bio-char. Bio-oil has a wide range of applications and also includes liquid fuels and raw chemical products. Therefore, it will be attractive to tailor the bio-oil properties to improve the yields of specific compounds that are economically interesting. In particular, pyrolytic sugar can be used for fermentation while phenolic compounds have an array of industrial applications such as adhesives; moreover, they can substitute petroleum-based phenols. However, it is difficult to achieve high yields of specific chemicals in the bio-oil without adequate biomass pre-treatments. …

Adhesives From Biomass Pyrolysis, Dongbing Li, Franco Berruti, Cedric Briens

5th International Congress on Green Process Engineering (GPE 2016)

Fast pyrolysis of waste biomass with high lignin content, such as birch wood, birch bark, hydrolysis lignin, kraft lignin or low-cost digestate from biogas production, provides oils that can be substituted for phenol in phenol-formaldehyde resins. Biomass fast pyrolysis was performed in a dedicated fluidized bed pyrolyzer that incorporated two crucial innovations: a fractional condensation train provided dry bio-oils with ~1% of moisture and much reduced acidity; autothermal pyrolysis with partial oxidation reduces operating and capital costs, as well as increasing the quality of the dry bio-oil. Dry bio-oil obtained from autothermal fast pyrolysis of kraft lignin can be used …

Choice Of Sewage Sludge Thermochemical Disposal Methods From Multi‐ Perspective Analysis, Dezhen Chen, Min Yang, Yuyan Hu

Life Cycle Assessment and Other Assessment Tools for Waste Management and Resource Optimization

Thermochemical conversion disposal methods for sewage sludge usually include incineration, gasification and pyrolysis. Incineration technology is relatively mature and the incineration ash can be potentially used for phosphorus (P) recovery. Gasification can be used to recover syngas which is convenient to be used for power & heat generation. While through pyrolysis, syngas of high quality, tar and char can be recovered. To make a proper choice from them, these techniques are compared from perspective of technology maturity, investment, operation cost, environmental impact and acceptability of the public. Technology maturity is evaluated by comparing industrial applications. Investment and operation cost are …

Characteristics And Kinetics Of Biomass Pylolysis In A Micro Fluidized Bed Reactor, Guangwen Xu, Shiqiu Gao, Jian Yu, Qiang Li, Jianhong Zhu, Zhengkang Duan

The 13th International Conference on Fluidization - New Paradigm in Fluidization Engineering

A Micro Fluidized Bed Reactor (MFBR) was developed to enable on-line pulse feeding and isothermal differential reaction of particle reactant. Application of the MFBR to biomass pyrolysis demonstrated that the resulting globe kinetics parameters were 11.77 kJ/mol and 1.45 s-1 on the gas release characteristics, respectively.

Multi-Wall Carbon Nanotubes Obtained By Fluidized Bed Pyrolysis Of Virgin Or Recycled Plastics, Umberto Arena, Maria Laura Mastellone

The 12th International Conference on Fluidization - New Horizons in Fluidization Engineering

A new technique for a continuous, mass production of high-quality multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), based on fluidized bed pyrolysis of polymers (virgin or recycled polyolefins and recycled polyethylene terephtalate), is described in detail. The study investigates the role of interactions between the bed material and the polymer particles injected into the reactor as well as that of the reactor temperature. Results are reported in terms of yield and quality of obtained MWCNTs, all characterized by thermogravimetrical analysis and SEM microscopy. The production of MWCNTs, in a relatively large quantity and at a low cost, is demonstrated as technically feasible.

Fast Pyrolysis Of Biomass In A Circulating Fluidised Bed, Manon Van De Velden, Xianfeng Fan, Andy Ingram, Jan Baeyens

The 12th International Conference on Fluidization - New Horizons in Fluidization Engineering

CFB biomass pyrolysis produces mostly bio-oil. Reaction rates are fast (k > 0.5 s-1). Yields exceed 60 wt% of bio-oil at 500 °C and at a residence time for oil and char t < 2.5 s. as achieved in plug flow CFB-mode, shown by PEPT to occur at U > (Utr + 1) m/s and G > 200 kg/m² s.