Publication date 2011-10
Publication informationRenewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 15 (8): 4171-4186Publisher Elsevier Item record/more information http://hdl.handle.net/10197/5976
Publisher's statementThis is the author's version of a work that was accepted for publication in Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews (VOL 15, ISSUE 8, (2011) ABSTRACT Robust alternative technology choices are required in the paradigm shift from the current crude oil-reliant transport fuel platform to a sustainable, more flexible transport infrastructure. In this vein, fast pyrolysis of biomass and upgrading of the product is deemed to have potential as a technology solution. The objective of this review is to provide an update on recent laboratory research and commercial developments in fast pyrolysis and upgrading techniques. Fast pyrolysis is a relatively mature technology and is on the verge of commercialisation. While upgrading of biooils is currently confined to laboratory and pilot scale, an increased understanding of upgrading processes has been achieved in recent times.
11With generation of waste plastics increasing, current EU legislation dictates high recovery rates and 12 policy favours waste management technology choices that occupy a high position on the waste 13 management hierarchy. Pyrolysis is a thermochemical conversion technology that can be considered a 14 'feedstock recycling' process and may play an increasing role in integrated waste management systems 15 of the future. The objective of this article is to present a review of current state-of-the-art commercial 16 pyrolysis processes for the production of liquid transport fuels from waste polyolefins (polyethylenes 17 (PE) and polypropylenes (PP)). Current plastic waste generation and management practices are briefly 18 summarised. Waste management infrastructure in Europe is reliant on landfill, incineration and 19 mechanical recycling, while feedstock recycling plays an insignificant role. Plastic-to-liquid (PTL) 20 platforms including delocalised pyrolysis followed by centralised upgrading, stand alone facilities, and 21 integrated waste management infrastructure concepts are briefly discussed. Commercial operations and 22 their process configurations are compared. Reactor technology for cracking of plastic waste is 23 presented. Important issues like fuel quality and contamination are also discussed. Fuel finishing 24 operations and fuel additives required to achieve an engine ready fuel are described in the final section.
25Recently published laboratory research in thermal and catalytic pyrolysis and integrated and co-26 processing studies are also summarised in this review. 27 28 liquefaction; pyrolysis; waste; plastic; polyolefin; waste-to-energy; waste
Keywords
This research details the characterisation of four Irish-grown lignocellulosic biomasses for pyrolysis by biomass composition analysis, TGA, and Py-GC/MS-FID. Ash content (mf) increased in the order spruce (0.26 wt.%) < salix (1.16 wt.%) < miscanthus (3.43 wt.%) < wheat straw (3.76 wt.%). Analysis of hydrolysis-derived sugar monomers showed that xylose concentrations (4.69–26.76 wt.%) ranged significantly compared to glucose concentrations (40.98–49.82 wt.%). Higher hemicellulose and ash contents probably increased non-volatile matter, and decreased the temperature of maximum degradation by TGA as well as yields of GC-detectable compounds by Py-GC/MS-FID. Differences in composition and degradation were reflected in the pyrolysate composition by lower quantities of sugars (principally levoglucosan), pyrans, and furans for salix, miscanthus, and wheat straw compared to spruce, and increased concentrations of cyclopentenones and acids.
Publication informationFuel, 91 (1): 112-118Publisher Elsevier Item record/more information http://hdl.handle.net/10197/5656
Publisher's statementThis is the author's version of a work that was accepted for publication in Fuel. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Fuel (VOL 91, ISSUE1, (2012)
AbstractThe production of synthetic fuels from alternative sources has increased in recent years as a cleaner, more sustainable source of transport fuel is now required. In response to European renewable energy targets,
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