Fast Pyrolysis of Biomass in a Fluidized Bed for Production of Bio-oil and Upgradation by Ex-situ Catalytic Bed

Abstract: Production of bio-oil from biomass is now becoming best substitute of fossil fuels in the transportation sector. Pyrolysis is one of the most promising route to produce bio-oil from biomass.  However, bio-oil needs to be upgraded due to presence of high percentage of oxygenated compounds. Catalytic fast pyrolysis is a very efficient way to produce and upgrade the bio-oil either it is in-situ or Ex-situ arrangement. This study presents the experimental investigation of fast pyrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass by ex-situ catalytic upgradation.  The whole process consists of four parts: biomass grinding and sieving, pyrolysis, ex-situ fixed bed and vapours quenching. The pyrolysis experiment has been performed with nitrogen with or without catalyst to investigate the yield of different products. The analysis of results shows that higher yield of gas is obtained from catalytic upgradation together with the low yield of oil. The more oxygen was removed into CO and CO2 from vapours due to more cracking reactions occurred on catalytic bed. The yield of oil was decreased in catalytic experiments, but it has relatively good energy content due to no water in viscous phase and low acid number. The char yield was same for non-catalytic and catalytic experiments.