Fast corn stalk pyrolysis and the influence of catalysts on product distribution

Tanglei Sun; Zaifeng Li; Zhiping Zhang; Zhiwei Wang; Shuhua Yang; Yantao Yang; Xin Wang; Shijie Liu; Quanguo Zhang; Tingzhou Lei

doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2020.122739

Fast corn stalk pyrolysis and the influence of catalysts on product distribution

Bioresour Technol. 2020 Apr:301:122739. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2020.122739. Epub 2020 Jan 7.

Authors

Tanglei Sun¹, Zaifeng Li², Zhiping Zhang³, Zhiwei Wang², Shuhua Yang², Yantao Yang², Xin Wang², Shijie Liu⁴, Quanguo Zhang³, Tingzhou Lei⁵

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of New Materials and Facilities for Rural Renewable Energy of MOA of China, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China; State University of New York-College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY ESF), Syracuse, NY 13210, USA; Henan Key Lab of Biomass Energy, Zhengzhou 450008, China.
² Energy Research Institute Co., Ltd, Henan Academy of Sciences, Zhengzhou 450008, China; Henan Key Lab of Biomass Energy, Zhengzhou 450008, China.
³ Key Laboratory of New Materials and Facilities for Rural Renewable Energy of MOA of China, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China.
⁴ State University of New York-College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY ESF), Syracuse, NY 13210, USA.
⁵ Key Laboratory of New Materials and Facilities for Rural Renewable Energy of MOA of China, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China; Henan Key Lab of Biomass Energy, Zhengzhou 450008, China. Electronic address: china_newenergy@163.com.

PMID: 31945683
DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2020.122739

Abstract

Fast pyrolysis of corn stalk (CS) was performed by pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) and the product distribution was measured as a function of temperature, time, and catalyst. The types and yields of product compounds were influenced dramatically by temperature, while the duration of the reaction had little effect on the type of compound. Three primary components in the biomass interacted during pyrolysis. The maximum proportions of aldehydes (27.26%), furans (5.93%), and olefins (6.46%), and the minimum proportions of alcohols (0%) and carbohydrates (0.74%) were obtained over MCM-41. HZSM-5 improved the selectivity of aromatic hydrocarbons while inhibiting acid formation. The proportion of N-compounds was maximal (23.39%) over ZrO₂. ZnCl₂ tended to generate the least amounts of ketones (2.02%), phenols (9.08%), and esters (2.16%), but the greatest amount of carbohydrates (37.31%). K₂SO₄ promoted the formation of acids, ketones, alcohols, and phenols, while reducing the production of N-compounds and aldehydes.

Keywords: Catalytic upgrading; Corn stalk (CS); Fast pyrolysis; Product distribution.

MeSH terms

Biomass
Catalysis
Hot Temperature
Pyrolysis*
Zea mays*