Catalytic fast pyrolysis of biomass
Summary
Catalytic pyrolysis aims to develop viable methods to improve the quality of the liquid product. As an ideal process for solid biomass conversion, it involves the production of upgraded liquids in a single step and at short residence times. The objective of catalytic pyrolysis is to produce a bio-oil with increased chemical and physical stability (through a reduction in the oxygen content of the bio-oil), increasing yields of target components within the bio-oil, combining the unstable hydrocarbons to form increased amounts of organic phase, lowering pyrolysis temperatures, and improving miscibility for co-feeding with existing petrochemical refinery systems. In this way, catalytic pyrolysis produces more hydrocarbon-like oil with lower tar and viscous content (e.g. pyrolytic lignins). With catalytic pyrolysis, cracking of the large molecules into the smaller ones is ensured, and the molecular weight range of the produced bio-oil is narrowed (C5-C12 range).
Equipment used
Project administration
Researcher: Güray Yildiz
Funding: UGent - Special Research Fund
Project duration: 01.09.2009 - 31.08.2013