Woody Feedstock Pretreatments to Enhance Pyrolysis Bio-oil Quality and Produce Transportation Fuel

Abstract

Lignocellulosic biomass as a potential renewable source of energy has a nearzero CO 2 emission. Pyrolysis converts biomass to a liquid fuel and increases the energy density and transportability. The pyrolysis bio-oil shows promising properties to substitute the conventional fossil fuels. But, unprocessed biomass is low in bulk and energy density; high in moisture; heterogeneous in physical and chemical properties, highly hygroscopic and difficult to handle. That is why the biomass needs mechanical, chemical and/or thermal pretreatments to turn into a more homogeneous feedstock and minimize the post-treatment fuel upgrading. This chapter explains the effects that various pretreatments such as size reduction, drying, washing and thermal pretreatments have on the quality and quantity of bio-oil. Washing with water or acid/alkali solutions extracts the minerals that consequently reduces the ash and shortens the reactor clean-out cycle. Torrefaction is gaining attention as an effective pretreatment to modify the quality of biomass in terms of physical and chemical properties. Torrefaction produces a uniform biomass with lower moisture, acidity and oxygen contents and higher energy density and grindability than raw biomass. Pyrolysis of torrefied biomass produces bio-oil with enhanced compositional and physical properties such as a higher heating value and increased C (lower O/C ratio).

An Exploration of Modified Microwave-assisted Rapid Hydrothermal Liquefaction Process for Conversion of Palm Kernel Shells to Bio-oil

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Analyzing Potential Failures and Effects in a Pilot-Scale Biomass Preprocessing Facility for Improved Reliability

“…It encompasses an expanded spectrum of viable biomass substrates, affords elevated energy conversion efficiencies, and yields an array of valueadded derivatives. However, it is imperative to underscore that the caliber and uniformity of the biomass feedstock possess substantive implications for the efficacy and efficiency of the pyrolysis process [11][12][13].…”