Fast pyrolysis of biomasses in a bubbling fluidized bed reactor

Abstract

The eects of the bed temperature, gas flow rate, bed material and static bed height on the fast pyrolysis of Jatropha curcas L. seedshell cake (JSC) and palm shell in a bubbling fluidized 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 eect 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. © 2012 The Society of Chemical Enginee rosf, Japan.