This paper provides an updated review on fast pyrolysis of biomass for production of a liquid usually referred to as bio-oil. The technology of fast pyrolysis is described including the major reaction systems. The primary liquid product is characterised by reference to the many properties that impact on its use. These properties have caused increasingly extensive research to be undertaken to address properties that need modification and this area is reviewed in terms of physical, catalytic and chemical upgrading. Of particular note is the increasing diversity of methods and catalysts and particularly the complexity and sophistication of multi-functional catalyst systems. It is also important to see more companies involved in this technology area and increased take-up of evolving upgrading processes. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd.

Review of fast pyrolysis of biomass and product upgrading

As the oil reserves are depleting the need of an alternative fuel source is becoming increasingly apparent. One prospective method for producing fuels in the future is conversion of biomass into bio-oil and then upgrading the bio-oil over a catalyst, this method is the focus of this review article. Bio-oil production can be facilitated through flash pyrolysis, which has been identified as one of the most feasible routes. The bio-oil has a high oxygen content and therefore low stability over time and a low heating value. Upgrading is desirable to remove the oxygen and in this way make it resemble crude oil. Two general routes for bio-oil upgrading have been considered: hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) and zeolite cracking. HDO is a high pressure operation where hydrogen is used to exclude oxygen from the bio-oil, giving a high grade oil product equivalent to crude oil. Catalysts for the reaction are traditional hydrodesulphurization (HDS) catalysts, such as Co–MoS2/Al2O3, or metal catalysts, as for example Pd/C. However, catalyst lifetimes of much more than 200 h have not been achieved with any current catalyst due to carbon deposition. Zeolite cracking is an alternative path, where zeolites, e.g. HZSM-5, are used as catalysts for the deoxygenation reaction. In these systems hydrogen is not a requirement, so operation is performed at atmospheric pressure. However, extensive carbon deposition results in very short catalyst lifetimes. Furthermore a general restriction in the hydrogen content of the bio-oil results in a low H/C ratio of the oil product as no additional hydrogen is supplied. Overall, oil from zeolite cracking is of a low grade, with heating values approximately 25% lower than that of crude oil. Of the two mentioned routes, HDO appears to have the best potential, as zeolite cracking cannot produce fuels of acceptable grade for the current infrastructure. HDO is evaluated as being a path to fuels in a grade and at a price equivalent to present fossil fuels, but several tasks still have to be addressed within this process. Catalyst development, understanding of the carbon forming mechanisms, understanding of the kinetics, elucidation of sulphur as a source of deactivation, evaluation of the requirement for high pressure, and sustainable sources for hydrogen are all areas which have to be elucidated before commercialisation of the process.

A review of catalytic upgrading of bio-oil to engine fuels

There is a rapidly growing body of literature covering the role of plant secondary metabolites in food and their potential effects on human health. Furthermore, consumers are increasingly aware of diet related health problems, therefore demanding natural ingredients which are expected to be safe and health-promoting. By-products of plant food processing represent a major disposal problem for the industry concerned, but they are also promising sources of compounds which may be used because of their favourable technological or nutritional properties. The purpose of this review is to highlight the potential of selected by-products as a source of functional compounds.

By-products of plant food processing as a source of functional compounds — recent developments

Treatment of organic pollution in industrial saline wastewater: a literature review

https://samson.chem.umass.edu/pub_pdf/pap88.pdf

Investigation into the shape selectivity of zeolite catalysts for biomass conversion

Catalytic upgrading of pyrolytic oils over HZSM-5 zeolite: behaviour of the catalyst when used in repeated upgrading–regenerating cycles

Treatment of olive oil industry wastes

Order in polymers with biphenylyl residues in the side-groups

Thermal Study of Blended Systems of Nylon 6 and a Liquid Crystalline Polyester

Semi-aromatic copolyamides and copolyester-amides are obtained by placing an aliphatic polyamide into contact with an aromatic hydroxyacid or aminoacid, by operating at high temperature, under melting conditions, possibly in the presence of a catalyst, with a ratio of the monomer units of aliphatic polyamide to the mols of aromatic hydroxyacid or aminoacid comprised within the range of from 20:1 to 1:1. The semiaromatic copolyamides and copolyester-amides so obtained can display a thermotropic liquid-crystal behaviour as a function of their content of aromatic units linked inside the molecular chain. Their elastic modulus results to be improved relatively to the alifatic polyamides used as the starting product, and the elongation at break results to be decreased. Such semiaromatic polyamides and copolyester-amides can find application in the production of high-stiffness articles, by means of moulding or extrusion processes. They can also be used as blends with the usual thermoplastic polymers, in which they act as reinforcer or compatibilizer agents.

Bruno Bresci

Papers

Catalytic upgrading of pyrolytic oils over HZSM-5 zeolite: behaviour of the catalyst when used in repeated upgrading–regenerating cycles

Treatment of olive oil industry wastes

Order in polymers with biphenylyl residues in the side-groups

Thermal Study of Blended Systems of Nylon 6 and a Liquid Crystalline Polyester

Semi-aromatic copolyamide or copolyester-amide prepared from aliphatic polyamide