Fast Pyrolysis Development_Venderbosch Et Al. 2010

Review

Fast pyrolysis technology development RH Venderbosch, BTG Biomass Technology Group BV, Enschede, the Netherlands W Prins, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, University of Ghent, Belgium and BTG Biomass Technology Group BV,

Enschede, the Netherlands Received October 21, 2009; revised version received November 30, 2009; accepted December 14, 2009 Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience. (www.interscience.wiley wiley.com); .com); DOI: 10.1002/bbb.205; Biofuels, Bioprod. Bioref. 4:178-208 (2010)

 Abstract: While the intention of of slow pyrolysis is to produce mainly charcoal, charcoal, fast pyrolysis pyrolysis is meant to convert convert biomass to a maximum quantity of l iquids (bio-oil). Both processes have in common that the biomass feedstock is densified to reduce storage space and transport costs. A comfortable, more stable and cleaner intermediate energy carrier is obtained, which is much more uniform and well defined. In this review, the principles of fast pyrolysis are discussed, and the main technologies reviewed (demo scale: fluid bed, rotating cone and vacuum pyrolysis; pilot plant: ablative and twin screw pyrolysis). Possible product applications are discussed in relation to the bio-oil properties. General mass and energy balance are provided as well, together with some remarks on the economics. Challenges for the coming years are (1) improvement of the reliability of pyrolysis reactors and processes; (2) the demonstration of the oil’s oil’s utilization in boilers, engines and turbines; and (3) the development of technologies for the production of chemicals and biofuels from pyrolysis oils. One important conclusion in relation to biofuel production is that the type of oxygen functionalities (viz. as an alcohol, ketone, aldehyde, ether, ether, or ester) in the oil should be controlled, rather then merely focusing on a reduction of just the oxygen content itself. © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd Keywords: pyrolysis, technology, review, bio-oil, biomass

Introduction

these frst-generation f rst-generation uels (