Microwave pyrolysis of biomass within a liquid medium

Shepherd, B. J.; Ryan, J.; Adam, M.; Beneroso Vallejo, D.; Casta�o, P.; Kostas, E. T.; Robinson, J. P.

Abstract

© 2018 Elsevier B.V. A new approach to pyrolysis is demonstrated that uses microwave heating combined with an external liquid media at atmospheric pressure. The liquid acts as the inerting medium instead of the traditional inert gas, and also acts as a heat-sink to maintain the external temperature at the normal boiling point of the liquid. The ability to regulate the external temperature using a liquid offers significant advantages over established pyrolysis technologies and is only possible due to the selective and volumetric heating that occurs with microwaves. The new concept overcomes many of the challenges encountered in traditional and gas-based microwave pyrolysis processes, producing a bio-oil that naturally partitions into a sugar-rich aqueous phase and a phenol-rich organic phase. Energy requirements are as low as 2 kJ/g for 50% volatilisation, comparable to microwave pyrolysis using inert gases. It is shown that the new concept works effectively with both microwave-transparent and microwave-absorbent solvents. The liquid media also acts to eliminate arcing and prevent carbonaceous residues from forming, phenomena which have so far proved challenging for the scale-up of microwave pyrolysis processes.

Citation

Shepherd, B. J., Ryan, J., Adam, M., Beneroso Vallejo, D., Castaño, P., Kostas, E. T., & Robinson, J. P. (2018). Microwave pyrolysis of biomass within a liquid medium. Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis, 134, 381-388. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaap.2018.07.004

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jul 9, 2018
• Online Publication Date: Jul 10, 2018
• Publication Date: Sep 1, 2018
• Deposit Date: Aug 13, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 11, 2019
• Journal: Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis
• Print ISSN: 0165-2370
• Electronic ISSN: 1873-250X
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 134
• Pages: 381-388
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaap.2018.07.004
• Keywords: Microwave pyrolysis; sycamore; liquid inerted medium, bio-oil
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1029100
• Publisher URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165237018302985?via%3Dihub
• Contract Date: Aug 13, 2018