Fast oxidative pyrolysis of sugar cane straw in a fluidized bed reactor

Author(s)

Mesa-Perez, Juan Miguel ^[1] ; Rocha, Jose Dilcio ^[2] ; Barbosa-Cortez, Luis Augusto ^[3] ; Penedo-Medina, Margarita ^[4] ; Luengo, Carlos Alberto ^[5] ; Cascarosa, Esther ^[6]

Affiliation

^[1] Bioware Tecnol, Campinas, SP - Brazil

^[2] Embrapa Empresa Brasileira Pesquisa Agr, BR-70770901 Brasilia, DF - Brazil

^[3] Univ Estadual Campinas, FEAGRI, BR-13083970 Campinas - Brazil

^[4] Univ Oriente, Dept Chem Engn, Santiago De Cuba 90900 - Cuba

^[5] Univ Estadual Campinas, IFGW, GCA, Grp Alternat Fuels, BR-13083970 Campinas, SP - Brazil

^[6] Univ Zaragoza, Aragon Inst Engn Res I3A, Thermochem Proc Grp, E-50018 Zaragoza - Spain

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: APPLIED THERMAL ENGINEERING; v. 56, n. 1-2, p. 167-175, JUL 2013.
• Web of Science Citations: 35

Abstract

This study focuses on the technical viability evaluation of the fast pyrolysis of sugar cane straw for its energy use. By means of this thermochemical process, the sugar cane straw is converted into bio-fuels (biochar, bio-oil) and non-condensable gases. The bio-fuels obtained could be used as fuel or as raw material in the chemical industry. The fast pyrolysis of sugar cane straw has been developed in a fluidized bed reactor. In order to improve this process to obtain high bio-oil yield, the influence of the operational conditions (equivalence ratio and temperature) on the product yields and on their characteristics was evaluated. The product yields of bio-oil and char were up to 35.5 wt.% and 48.2 wt.% respectively. The maximum bio-oil yield was achieved at temperature and equivalence ratio conditions of 470 degrees C and 0.14. The bio-oil obtained has low oxygen content (38.48 wt.% dry basis), very low water content, and a lower heating value of 22.95 MJ/kg. The gas chromatographic analyses allowed the identification of oxygenated compounds and heterocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The bio-oil pH ranged between 3.14 and 3.57 due to the presence of acid organic compounds. The char obtained has a high fixed carbon and volatile matter content. Its HHV value is 13.54 MJ/kg. (c) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 03/13313-5 - Development of continuous production system for torrefied briquettes
• Grantee: Felix Eliecer Fonseca Felfli
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Innovative Research in Small Business - PIPE