Charcoal from biomass
is a promising alternative for fossil coal.
Although its quality increases at high pyrolysis temperature, charcoal
yield decreases, meaning lower economic performances of charcoal production
processes. This work aims at demonstrating potential methods to increase
charcoal yield while keeping its quality at satisfying levels. We
suggested the recycling of bio-oil from the pyrolysis process as a
primary measure. In addition, we also investigated in detail the consequence
of utilizing CO2 instead of N2 as reaction media
under practical conditions (i.e., thick particles). An experimental
investigation was carried out in a macro-thermogravimetric (macro-TG)
reactor. The sample (woodchips, bio-oil, and woodchips embedded with
bio-oil) was exposed to the reaction temperature either instantaneously
(isothermal condition) or by slow heating (slow pyrolysis) in controlled
gas flows of N2 and CO2. The results showed
that charcoal yield increases with the bio-oil recycling on woodchips
at all pyrolysis temperatures (300–700 °C). By 20% of
bio-oil embedding on woodchips, charcoal yield increased by 18.3%
on average. The increase of charcoal yield was not only because of
the increase in reactants but also due to the synergetic effect between
bio-oil and woodchips upon physical contact. Bio-oil recycling had
negligible effects on the property of charcoal, such as carbon content
and heating value. Although CO2 did not affect primary
pyrolysis, it had effects on mass transfer processes. As a result,
significantly higher charcoal yield was obtained from pyrolysis in
CO2 than in N2 by ensuring a good contact of
volatiles and solid surface (i.e., usage of thick particles and slow
heating). This study suggests that we can achieve high charcoal yield
while maintaining the similar charcoal property by bio-oil recycling,
CO2 purging, use of thick particles, and slow heating.
An organosolv method was developed for the fractionation of fibers of a halophyte plant in a biorefinery approach. Salicornia dolichostachya was used as raw material allowing the production of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin fractions.
Halophytes present major potentials in biorefinery as these salt tolerant crops prospect an alternative for energy demands and products with reduced effects in food security and environmental damages when compared...
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