Flash co-pyrolysis of biomass with polyhydroxybutyrate: Part 1. Influence on bio-oil yield, water content, heating value and the production of chemicals

• Published in: Fuel (Guildford) Vol. 87; no. 12; pp. 2523 - 2532
• Main Authors: Cornelissen, T., Jans, M., Yperman, J., Reggers, G., Schreurs, S., Carleer, R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01-09-2008; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Bio-oil; Biomass; Energy; Exact sciences and technology; Flash co-pyrolysis; Natural energy; Polyhydroxybutyrate; Pyrolytic water; Willow; Pyrolytic water; Flash co-pyrolysis; Willow; Polyhydroxybutyrate; Bio-oil; Flash pyrolysis; Biomass; Salicaceae; Salix; Calorific value; Renewable energy; Flash co-pyrolysis;Willow;Polyhydroxybutyrate;Pyrolytic water;Bio-oil; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Biopolymer; Water content; Spermatophyta; Comparative study
• ISSN: 0016-2361; 1873-7153
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fuel.2008.02.024

Bio-oil obtained via flash pyrolysis shows potential to be applied as a renewable fuel. However, bio-oil often contains high amounts of water, which is a major drawback for its application. The influence of a biopolymer – polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) on the pyrolysis of willow is investigated using a semi-continuous home-built pyrolysis reactor. The flash co-pyrolysis of willow/PHB blends (w/w ratio 7:1, 3:1, 2:1 and 1:1) clearly shows particular merits: a synergetic increase in pyrolysis yield, a synergetic reduction of the water content in bio-oil, an increase in heating value, and a production of easily separable chemicals. The occurrence of synergetic interactions is observed based on a comparison between the actual pyrolysis results of the willow/PHB blends, the theoretical pyrolysis results calculated from the reference pyrolysis experiments (pure willow and pure PHB) and their respective w/w ratio. The co-pyrolysis of 1:1 willow/PHB shows the best overall results.