Fast pyrolysis of biomass,
improving the oil quality.
PhD. Student: Stijn Oudenhoven
Thesis advisor: Prof. dr. S.R.A. Kersten
Supervisor: dr. ir. R.J.M. Westerhof
Research group: TNW/SPT
Supported by: CatchBio
Phone: +31 (0)53 4894418
E-mail: s.r.g.oudenhoven@utwente.nl
URL: www.utwente.nl/tnw/spt
Research school: OSPT
Period: feb 2012-jan 2016
Introduction: Fast pyrolysis of biomass is a
Objective: Stijn is working within the CatchBio
promising
project
technique
to
depolymerize
“Catalytic steps in the conversion of
lignocellulosic biomass, this is required to produce
lignocellulosic
fuels
During
precursors”. In this project his goal is to develop
elevated
methods to improve the oil quality already within
and
pyrolysis
chemicals
biomass
from
biomass.
decomposes
at
temperatures and in the absence of oxygen into
the
gasses, oil and char. The pyrolysis oil is a complex
processing.
mixture
of
water
and
a
large
variety
pyrolysis
biomass
via
process
pyrolysis
to
to
improve
fuel
further
of
oxygenated organic compounds. The composition
of the oil is determined by the biomass feedstock,
Results: We developed a process concept to
increase the oil and especially sugar (levoglucosan) yields. This is achieved by demineralizing
process conditions and pyrolysis oil handling.
the
biomass
before
pyrolysis,
cellulose
as fuel for stationary engines, boilers or turbines
levoglucosan. The biomass is demineralized using
to produce heat and electricity. Moreover it can be
an
used
concentrated within the same process. Moreover
intermediate
for
the
production
of
organic
acid
selectivity
the
Pyrolysis oil has the potential to be used directly
as
decomposition
increasing
stream,
towards
produced
and
staged condensation of the pyrolysis vapors is
transportation fuels and chemicals.
applied to obtain a first separation already within
Levoglucosan, a pyrolysis product from cellulose,
the process. The product streams of the process
is an interesting compound that can be hydrolysed
are
into glucose and/or directly fermented into bio
aromatics and light oxygenates which can be used
ethanol or lipids.
as feed for the bio and petrochemical industry.
Water, minerals, acetic acid,
glycol aldehyde, acetol etc..
concentrated
in
(fermentable)
sugars,
Current research topics:
Separation
•
Removal of metal ions from biomass
using organic acids.
Pyrolysis
Reactor
Heat
Combustor
Condenser 2
Condenser 1
Biomass
Pretreatment
(Washing + drying)
•
Study the primary reactions of
cellulose
decomposition.
•
Techno/economical
evaluation
of
proposed process.
Char
Water
addition
Non condensable
gasses
Sugars
Aromatics
Figure 1: Proposed pyrolysis process
Netherlands Research School in Process Technology
Reference: Oudenhoven, S.R.G., et al., Demineralization
of wood using wood-derived acid: Towards a selective
pyrolysis process for fuel and chemicals production. J ANAL
APPL PYROL, 2013. 103(0): p. 112-118.
www.ospt.eu