Bio-oil Production from Palm Kernel Cake using fast Pyrolysis Process Parameters in a Fluidized-Bed Reactor

Abstract

A fast pyrolysis process with a fluidized-bed reactor was investigated for producing bio-oil from palm kernel cake. The process parameters were investigated with the objective of determining the optimal bio-oil yield and properties. Using a biomass particle size of 0.2-0.5 mm, a biomass feed rate of 100 g/h, a carrier gas flow rate of 11 l/min, and a pyrolysis temperature of 550°C resulted in yields of 65.5 wt% total bio-oil, 23.5 wt% char, and 11.0 wt% gas. The total bio-oil yield comprised 47.1 wt% organic bio-oil, 18.4 wt% reaction water, and <1 wt% light bio-oil. As the process conditions varied, the properties of the produced heavy bio-oil changed slightly. Heavy bio-oil had a water content of 6.2-8.7 wt%, a higher heating value of 29.8 MJ/kg, a pH value of 3.5-4.8, a density of 0.94-0.99 kg/dm3, a viscosity of 200 cSt, and a stability of 0.02 cSt/h. These results demonstrated that the characteristics of heavy bio-oil derived from palm kernel cake met the ASTM standards for pyrolysis liquid biofuels.