Microwave pyrolysis of biomass for bio-oil production: Scalable processing concepts

Beneroso, D.; Monti, T.; Kostas, E.T.; Robinson, J.

Abstract

The pursuit of sustainable hydrocarbon alternatives to fossil fuels has prompted an acceleration in the development of new technologies for biomass processing. Microwave pyrolysis of biomass has long been recognised to provide better quality bio-products in shorter timescales compared to conventional pyrolysis. Although this topic has been widely assessed and many investigations are currently ongoing, this article gives an overview beyond the physico-chemical pyrolysis process and covers engineering aspects and the limitations of microwave heating technology. Herein, we provide innovative scalable concepts to perform the microwave pyrolysis of biomass on a large scale, including essential energy and material handling requirements. Furthermore, some of the possible socio-economic and environmental implications derived from the use of this technology in our society are discussed. Such potential concepts are expected to assist the needs of the industrial bioenergy community to move this largely studied process upwards in scale.

Citation

Beneroso, D., Monti, T., Kostas, E., & Robinson, J. (2017). Microwave pyrolysis of biomass for bio-oil production: Scalable processing concepts. Chemical Engineering Journal, 316, 481-498. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2017.01.130

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jan 27, 2017
• Online Publication Date: Feb 3, 2017
• Publication Date: May 15, 2017
• Deposit Date: May 9, 2017
• Publicly Available Date: May 9, 2017
• Journal: Chemical Engineering Journal
• Print ISSN: 1385-8947
• Electronic ISSN: 1385-8947
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 316
• Pages: 481-498
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2017.01.130
• Keywords: Microwave pyrolysis; Biofuels; Biomass pyrolysis; Microwave scale-up; Bio-oil production; Bioenergy
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/860692
• Publisher URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1385894717301250
• Additional Information: This article is maintained by: Elsevier; Article Title: Microwave pyrolysis of biomass for bio-oil production: Scalable processing concepts; Journal Title: Chemical Engineering Journal; CrossRef DOI link to publisher maintained version: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2017.01.130; Content Type: article; Copyright: Crown Copyright © 2017 Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.