Reaction Engineering, Kinetics, and Catalysis

Heterogeneous and homogeneous reactions of pyrolysis vapors from pine wood

  1. Elly Hoekstra1,
  2. Roel J. M. Westerhof1,*,
  3. Wim Brilman1,
  4. Wim P.M. Van Swaaij1,
  5. Sascha R. A. Kersten1,
  6. Kees J. A. Hogendoorn1,
  7. Michael Windt2

Article first published online: 30 NOV 2011

DOI: 10.1002/aic.12799

Issue

AIChE Journal

AIChE Journal

Volume 58, Issue 9, pages 2830–2842, September 2012

Additional Information

How to Cite

Hoekstra, E., Westerhof, R. J. M., Brilman, W., Van Swaaij, W. P.M., Kersten, S. R. A., Hogendoorn, K. J. A. and Windt, M. (2012), Heterogeneous and homogeneous reactions of pyrolysis vapors from pine wood. AIChE J., 58: 2830–2842. doi: 10.1002/aic.12799

Author Information

  1. 1

    University of Twente, Faculty of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands

  2. 2

    vTI-Institute of Wood Technology and Wood Biology, Leuschnerstr. 91, 21031 Hamburg, Germany

*University of Twente, Faculty of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 8 AUG 2012
  2. Article first published online: 30 NOV 2011
  3. Accepted manuscript online: 18 OCT 2011 10:45AM EST
  4. Manuscript Revised: 1 OCT 2011
  5. Manuscript Received: 15 JUN 2011

Funded by

  • EU 6th Framework Program. Grant Number: BIOCOUP, 518312

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Keywords:

  • fast pyrolysis;
  • reaction mechanism;
  • biomass;
  • vapor phase;
  • minerals

Abstract

To maximize oil yields in the fast pyrolysis of biomass it is generally accepted that vapors need to be rapidly quenched. The influence of the heterogeneous and homogeneous vapor-phase reactions on yields and oil composition were studied using a fluidized-bed reactor. Even high concentrations of mineral low char (till 55 vol %) appeared not to be catalytically active. However, the presence of minerals, either in biomass or added, does influence the yields, especially by the occurrence of vapor-phase charring/polymerization reactions. Contradictory, in the absence of minerals, homogeneous vapor-phase cracking reactions were dominant over polymerization/charring reactions (400–550°C, 1–15 s). With increasing vapor residence time, the oil yield reached an asymptotic value, which decreased with temperature. At a vapor temperature of 400°C no decrease in oil yield was observed, but dedicated analysis showed that homogeneous vapor to vapor reactions had occurred. © 2011 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2012

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