Study on Catalytic Pyrolysis of Manchurian Ash for Production of Bio-Oil

Abstract

Pyrolysis of Manchurian ash (Fraxinus mandshurica Rupr.) sawdust with four zeolite molecular sieve catalysts was performed on a thermogravimetric analyzer coupled with a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer. Pyrolysis of pure Manchurian ash and three main components, viz. cellulose, xylan, lignin, was also carried out as reference. The four zeolite catalysts investigated in this study (viz. HZSM-5, H-β, USY and Na-Y) all catalyze the dehydration reaction, restrain the release of volatiles, and obviously promote the final residue yields. Y-type catalysts show the most evident catalytic effect, such as restraining the formation of aldehydes, acids, and ethers, and promoting that of isoalkanes and aromatics. The preferred catalyst should have both high activity for deoxygenating and selectivity for hydrocarbon production.

Keywords:

• Biomass
• Zeolite
• Catalytic pyrolysis
• Activity
• Selectivity

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors appreciate financial support granted from the National Natural Science Foundation (50676085 and 90610035) and National Basic Research Program of China (2007CB210200). They also greatly appreciate the support from National High Technology Research and Development Program of China (2009AA05Z407), the International Science and Technology Cooperation Program (2009DFA61050), and the Program of Introducing Talents of Discipline to University (B08026).