Preparation and characterization of bio-oils from internally circulating fluidized-bed pyrolyses of municipal, livestock, and wood waste

Bioresour Technol. 2011 Jan;102(2):2009-15. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2010.09.057. Epub 2010 Sep 19.

Abstract

Fast pyrolyses of sewage sludge (SS), pig compost (PC), and wood chip (WC) were investigated in an internally circulating fluidized-bed to evaluate bio-oil production. The pyrolyses were performed at 500 °C and the bio-oil yields from SS, PC, and WC were 45.2%, 44.4%, and 39.7% (dried and ash-free basis), respectively. The bio-oils were analyzed with an elemental analyzer, Karl-Fischer moisture titrator, bomb calorimeter, Fourier transformation infrared spectrometer, gel permeation chromatograph, and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The results show that the bio-oil from SS is rich in aliphatic and organonitrogen species, while the bio-oil from PC exhibits higher caloric value due to its higher carbon content and lower oxygen content in comparison with that from SS. The bio-oils from SS and PC have similar chemical composition of organonitrogen species. Most of the compounds detected in the bio-oil from WC are organooxygen species. Because of its high oxygen content, low H/C ratio, and caloric value, the bio-oil from WC is unfeasible for use as fuel feedstock, but possible for use as chemical feedstock.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biofuels / analysis*
  • Biomass
  • Bioreactors*
  • Biotechnology / instrumentation*
  • Biotechnology / methods*
  • Cities
  • Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
  • Gases / analysis
  • Livestock
  • Molecular Weight
  • Oils / chemical synthesis*
  • Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
  • Temperature*
  • Thermogravimetry
  • Waste Products / analysis*
  • Wood / chemistry

Substances

  • Biofuels
  • Gases
  • Oils
  • Waste Products