Renewable phenols production by catalytic microwave pyrolysis of Douglas fir sawdust pellets with activated carbon catalysts

Quan Bu; Hanwu Lei; Lu Wang; Yi Wei; Lei Zhu; Yupeng Liu; Jing Liang; Juming Tang

doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2013.05.073

Renewable phenols production by catalytic microwave pyrolysis of Douglas fir sawdust pellets with activated carbon catalysts

Bioresour Technol. 2013 Aug:142:546-52. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2013.05.073. Epub 2013 May 28.

Authors

Quan Bu¹, Hanwu Lei, Lu Wang, Yi Wei, Lei Zhu, Yupeng Liu, Jing Liang, Juming Tang

Affiliation

¹ Bioproducts, Sciences and Engineering Laboratory, Department of Biological Systems Engineering, Washington State University, Richland, WA 99354-1671, United States.

PMID: 23765005
DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2013.05.073

Abstract

The effects of different activated carbon (AC) catalysts based on various carbon sources on products yield and chemical compositions of upgraded pyrolysis oils were investigated using microwave pyrolysis of Douglas fir sawdust pellets. Results showed that high amounts of phenols were obtained (74.61% and 74.77% in the upgraded bio-oils by DARCO MRX (wood based) and DARCO 830 (lignite coal based) activated carbons, respectively). The catalysts recycling test of the selected catalysts indicated that the carbon catalysts can be reused for at least 3-4 times and produced high concentrations of phenol and phenolic compounds. The chemical reaction mechanism for phenolics production during microwave pyrolysis of biomass was analyzed.

Keywords: Activated carbon; Catalytic pyrolysis; Phenols; Reaction mechanism; Recycling.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Abies*
Carbon / chemistry*
Catalysis
Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
Microwaves*
Phenols / chemical synthesis*

Substances

Phenols
Carbon