Influence of Temperature and Residence Time on Torrefaction Coupled to Fast Pyrolysis for Valorizing Agricultural Waste

Angel Alcazar-Ruiz, Fernando Dorado and Luz Sanchez-Silva ()
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Angel Alcazar-Ruiz: Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Avda. Camilo José Cela 12, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain
Fernando Dorado: Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Avda. Camilo José Cela 12, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain
Luz Sanchez-Silva: Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Avda. Camilo José Cela 12, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 21, 1-19

Abstract: Torrefaction is a promising pretreatment technology for valorizing biomass and upgrading pyrolysis products. This study sets out an original procedure consisting of subjecting the biomass to torrefaction before fast pyrolysis to increased value-added compounds based on agricultural waste biomasses production. This study uses a combined biomass treatment consisting of torrefaction (280–320 °C) and subsequent fast pyrolysis (500 °C) using the same reactor. Under different torrefaction temperatures and residence times, olive pomace (OP) and almond shell (AS) have been evaluated. The study demonstrated OP rather than AS was thermally unstable. The highest total yield of carboxylic acids (mainly acetic acid) was obtained by means of torrefaction at 280 °C with a residence time of 20 s for OP, and at 300 °C and 20 s for AS. Higher torrefaction temperature and residence time promoted phenolic compounds production for OP. However, OP had a higher lignin content and inherent metals that promoted a catalytic reaction during the procedure. The highest yield (47.7%) was obtained using torrefaction at 320 °C with a residence time of 240 s. Overall, the torrefaction of biomass combined with fast pyrolysis constituted a very simple and efficient strategy for valorizing the conversion of agricultural waste biomass into value-added chemicals.

Keywords: torrefaction; temperature; residence time; fast pyrolysis; olive pomace; almond shell (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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