Fast Pyrolysis of Biomasses in a Bubbling Fluidized Bed Reactor

Abstract

The e ects of the bed temperature, gas ow rate, bed material and static bed height on the fast pyrolysis of Jatropha curcas L. seedshell cake (JSC) and palm shell in a bubbling uidized bed reactor have been determined. Without catalysis, the maximum pyrolysis liquid yields of 49 and 56 wt% from JSC and palm shell are obtained at bed temperatures of 743 and 762 K, respectively. The e ect of the FCC catalyst on the fast pyrolysis of palm shell has also been studied. The use of a fresh FCC catalyst (FC) and spent FCC catalyst (SC) increased the yields of gas and water, while the oil fraction decreased when compared with the non-catalytic pyrolysis. Elemental analysis shows that the oxygen content of the pyrolysis liquid decreased to 17% with the FC and to 23% in the presence of the SC, resulting in increased higher heating values (HHV) of the catalytic pyrolysis liquids compared with the non-catalytic pyrolysis liquid. Simulated distillation (SIMDIS) analysis of the JSC pyrolysis liquids show that the pyrolysis liquid obtained at a bed temperature of 744 K had the highest content of middle distillate. Short Communication