Results of the International Energy Agency Bioenergy Round Robin on the Analysis of Heteroatoms in Biomass Liquefaction Oils

Abstract

A round robin study evaluating the analysis of biomass liquefaction oils (BLOs) from fast pyrolysis and hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) was performed, involving fifteen laboratories in seven countries in order to assess the current status of analytical techniques for the determination of nitrogen, sulfur, and chlorine content in BLOs and evaluate potential differences in origin (i.e. fast pyrolysis vs HTL). The BLOs were produced from a range of feedstocks including pine, mixed softwoods, forest residues, micro-algae, miscanthus, and wheat straw to cover a variety in nitrogen, sulfur, and chlorine content and speciation. Nine samples were distributed, comprised of eight separate BLOs and one blind duplicate produced by five producers. The samples were analyzed for water, carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, sulfur, and chlorine content. No analytical test method was mandated; laboratories were encouraged to utilize whichever method they determined would be most applicable, relying on the existing body of BLO literature as a guide. The results of this round robin study are presented in this paper. The results of the carbon, hydrogen, and water measurements as reference analyses had relative standard deviations (2.9%, 3.5, and 5.6%, respectively) that were comparable to those found in past round robin studies on fast pyrolysis bio-oil. The analysis of nitrogen, sulfur, and chlorine showed higher levels of variability. Laboratories mostly chose the same method for water, carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen determination whereas there were a variety of methods chosen for sulfur and chlorine determination. The results suggest that specific analytical methods for the determination of nitrogen, sulfur, and chlorine should be further refined to ensure reproducible and accurate results for BLO analysis due to their importance on emissions, material selection, and catalyst activity. File list (3) download file view on ChemRxiv Results of the IEA Bioenergy Round Robin on the Analys... (710.52 KiB) download file view on ChemRxiv Results of the IEA Bioenergy Round Robin on the Analys... (584.63 KiB) download file view on ChemRxiv Results of the IEA Bioenergy Round Robin on the Analysi... (25.17 KiB)

Conversion of waste to sustainable aviation fuel via Fischer–Tropsch synthesis: Front‐end design decisions

“…For instance, liquefaction of wood has produced pyrolysis oils with viscosities between 15 and 100 cSt and HTL oils with viscosities between 500 and 1,600,000 cSt (viscosity measurements reported at 40°C). 128 The samples in Table 4 also show significant differences (more than one order of magnitude) when comparing the viscosity of pyrolysis and HTL oils. With exception of sample HTL_D, which remained a solid even after heating to 100°C, the increase in temperature reduced the viscosity of the samples to levels that seem appropriate for pumping.…”

“…Viscosity of these products can vary in a wide range, with HTL oils being typically more viscous than pyrolysis oils. For instance, liquefaction of wood has produced pyrolysis oils with viscosities between 15 and 100 cSt and HTL oils with viscosities between 500 and 1,600,000 cSt (viscosity measurements reported at 40°C) 128 …”

“…The literature on non‐CHNSO element concentration in bio‐ and waste oils is quite scattered and most references conducted only analyses for specific elements instead of a full characterization of all non‐CHNSO element concentrations. The reported elements and the maximum concentration in oils produced from such materials are summarized in Figure 3 91,114,128,161–188 …”

“…Non‐CHNSO elements and maximum concentrations reported in bio‐ and waste oils in Refs. 91,114,128,161–188…”

Polymeric waste valorization at a crossroads: ten ways to bridge the research on model and complex/real feedstock

“…80 Polymeric waste valorization already has a privileged position, and several initiatives have been developed to convert polymeric waste streams into chemicals. 81,82 However, if our ambition is to treat feedstock as a whole, we will probably need to sacrifice a certain fundamental understanding of the process due to intrinsic limitations. To obtain the utmost benefits from the studies on model compounds, efforts must be directed toward establishing an experimental framework where model compound studies are conducted.…”