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Journal ArticleDOI

Pyrolysis of Wood/Biomass for Bio-oil: A Critical Review

10 Mar 2006-Energy & Fuels (American Chemical Society)-Vol. 20, Iss: 3, pp 848-889
TL;DR: A review of the recent developments in the wood pyrolysis and reports the characteristics of the resulting bio-oils, which are the main products of fast wood pyrotechnics, can be found in this paper.
Abstract: Fast pyrolysis utilizes biomass to produce a product that is used both as an energy source and a feedstock for chemical production. Considerable efforts have been made to convert wood biomass to liquid fuels and chemicals since the oil crisis in mid-1970s. This review focuses on the recent developments in the wood pyrolysis and reports the characteristics of the resulting bio-oils, which are the main products of fast wood pyrolysis. Virtually any form of biomass can be considered for fast pyrolysis. Most work has been performed on wood, because of its consistency and comparability between tests. However, nearly 100 types of biomass have been tested, ranging from agricultural wastes such as straw, olive pits, and nut shells to energy crops such as miscanthus and sorghum. Forestry wastes such as bark and thinnings and other solid wastes, including sewage sludge and leather wastes, have also been studied. In this review, the main (although not exclusive) emphasis has been given to wood. The literature on woo...
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Book
23 Jun 2010
TL;DR: In this article, the authors provide a comprehensive coverage of the design, analysis, and operational aspects of biomass gasification, the key technology enabling the production of biofuels from all viable sources.
Abstract: This book offers comprehensive coverage of the design, analysis, and operational aspects of biomass gasification, the key technology enabling the production of biofuels from all viable sources--some examples being sugar cane and switchgrass. This versatile resource not only explains the basic principles of energy conversion systems, but also provides valuable insight into the design of biomass gasifiers. The author provides many worked out design problems, step-by-step design procedures and real data on commercially operating systems. After fossil fuels, biomass is the most widely used fuel in the world. Biomass resources show a considerable potential in the long term if residues are properly handled and dedicated energy crops are grown. 5 years of the author's research in the area Biomass fuel production First book devoted to Biomass Gasification Includes step-by-design procedures, cases studies and worked out numerical examples

1,169 citations


Cites background from "Pyrolysis of Wood/Biomass for Bio-o..."

  • ...In slow pyrolysis of wood, hemicellulose pyrolysis begins at 130 to 194 °C, with most of the decomposition occurring above 180 °C (Mohan et al., 2006, p. 126)....

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  • ...For example, its viscosity increases and its volatility decreases (Mohan et al., 2006) with time....

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  • ...It yields phenols via cleavage of ether and carbon–carbon linkages (Mohan et al., 2006)....

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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: An overview of the developments made in the area of biodegradable composites, in terms of market, processing methods, matrix reinforcement systems, morphology, properties and product development is presented in this article.

1,133 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This critical review provides insights into the state-of-the-art accomplishments in the chemocatalytic technologies to generate fuels and value-added chemicals from lignocellulosic biomass, with an emphasis on its major component, cellulose.
Abstract: Lignocellulosic biomass is the most abundant and bio-renewable resource with great potential for sustainable production of chemicals and fuels. This critical review provides insights into the state-of the-art accomplishments in the chemocatalytic technologies to generate fuels and value-added chemicals from lignocellulosic biomass, with an emphasis on its major component, cellulose. Catalytic hydrolysis, solvolysis, liquefaction, pyrolysis, gasification, hydrogenolysis and hydrogenation are the major processes presently studied. Regarding catalytic hydrolysis, the acid catalysts cover inorganic or organic acids and various solid acids such as sulfonated carbon, zeolites, heteropolyacids and oxides. Liquefaction and fast pyrolysis of cellulose are primarily conducted over catalysts with proper acidity/basicity. Gasification is typically conducted over supported noble metal catalysts. Reaction conditions, solvents and catalysts are the prime factors that affect the yield and composition of the target products. Most of processes yield a complex mixture, leading to problematic upgrading and separation. An emerging technique is to integrate hydrolysis, liquefaction or pyrolysis with hydrogenation over multifunctional solid catalysts to convert lignocellulosic biomass to value-added fine chemicals and bio-hydrocarbon fuels. And the promising catalysts might be supported transition metal catalysts and zeolite-related materials. There still exist technological barriers that need to be overcome (229 references).

1,123 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, microalgae have been investigated for the production of a number of different bio-fuels including biodiesel, biooil, bio-syngas, and bio-hydrogen.
Abstract: Microalgae are a diverse group of prokaryotic and eukaryotic photosynthetic microorganisms that grow rapidly due to their simple structure. They can potentially be employed for the production of biofuels in an economically effective and environmentally sustainable manner. Microalgae have been investigated for the production of a number of different biofuels including biodiesel, bio-oil, bio-syngas, and bio-hydrogen. The production of these biofuels can be coupled with flue gas CO2 mitigation, wastewater treatment, and the production of high-value chemicals. Microalgal farming can also be carried out with seawater using marine microalgal species as the producers. Developments in microalgal cultivation and downstream processing (e.g., harvesting, drying, and thermochemical processing) are expected to further enhance the cost-effectiveness of the biofuel from microalgae strategy.

1,074 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, an updated review on the fundamentals and reaction mechanisms of the slow-pyrolysis and hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) processes, identifies research gaps, and summarizes the physicochemical characteristics of chars for different applications in the industry.
Abstract: Slow-pyrolysis of biomass for the production of biochar, a stable carbon-rich solid by-product, has gained considerable interest due to its proven role and application in the multidisciplinary areas of science and engineering. An alternative to slow-pyrolysis is a relatively new process called hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) of biomass, where the biomass is treated with hot compressed water instead of drying, has shown promising results. The HTC process offers several advantages over conventional dry-thermal pre-treatments like slow-pyrolysis in terms of improvements in the process performances and economic efficiency, especially its ability to process wet feedstock without pre-drying requirement. Char produced from both the processes exhibits significantly different physiochemical properties that affect their potential applications, which includes but is not limited to carbon sequestration, soil amelioration, bioenergy production, and wastewater pollution remediation. This paper provides an updated review on the fundamentals and reaction mechanisms of the slow-pyrolysis and HTC processes, identifies research gaps, and summarizes the physicochemical characteristics of chars for different applications in the industry. The literature reviewed in this study suggests that hydrochar (HTC char) is a valuable resource and is superior to biochar in certain ways. For example, it contains a reduced alkali and alkaline earth and heavy metal content, and an increased higher heating value compared to the biochar produced at the same operating process temperature. However, its effective utilization would require further experimental research and investigations in terms of feeding of biomass against pressure; effects and relationships among feedstocks compositions, hydrochar characteristics and process conditions; advancement in the production technique(s) for improvement in the physicochemical behavior of hydrochar; and development of a diverse range of processing options to produce hydrochar with characteristics required for various industry applications.

1,061 citations

References
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors demonstrate that cellulose can be dissolved without activation or pretreatment in, and regenerated from, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride and other hydrophilic ionic liquids.
Abstract: We report here initial results that demonstrate that cellulose can be dissolved without activation or pretreatment in, and regenerated from, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride and other hydrophilic ionic liquids. This may enable the application of ionic liquids as alternatives to environmentally undesirable solvents currently used for dissolution of this important bioresource.

4,276 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The potential of a restored landfill site to act as a biomass source, providing fuel to supplement landfill gas-fuelled power stations, is examined, together with a comparison of the economics of power production from purpose-grown biomass versus waste-biomass.

4,162 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors reviewed scientific and technical developments in applications of bio-oil to date and concluded with some suggestions for research and strategic developments, and concluded that biooil is a renewable liquid fuel and can also be used for production of chemicals.
Abstract: Fast pyrolysis of biomass is one of the most recent renewable energy processes to have been introduced. It offers the advantages of a liquid product, bio-oil that can be readily stored and transported. Bio-oil is a renewable liquid fuel and can also be used for production of chemicals. Fast pyrolysis has now achieved a commercial success for production of chemicals and is being actively developed for producing liquid fuels. Bio-oils have been successfully tested in engines, turbines, and boilers, and have been upgraded to high-quality hydrocarbon fuels, although at a presently unacceptable energetic and financial cost. The paper critically reviews scientific and technical developments in applications of bio-oil to date and concludes with some suggestions for research and strategic developments.

2,672 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A brief review of the main conversion processes is presented, with specific regard to the production of a fuel suitable for spark ignition gas engines.

1,919 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, a review of thermal conversion processes and particularly the reactors that have been developed to provide the necessary conditions to optimise performance is presented, and the main technical and non-technical barriers to implementation are identified.

1,760 citations