The Influential Mechanism of Absorbers and Active Metal on Microwave-Assisted Pyrolysis of Sargassum

Kai Chen, Qing Xu () and Shenwei Zhang
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Kai Chen: Guangdong R&D Center for Technological Economy, Guangzhou 510070, China
Qing Xu: College of Ocean Engineering and Energy, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China
Shenwei Zhang: College of Ocean Engineering and Energy, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 11, 1-13

Abstract: Composite catalysts combining absorbers and active metal hold significant potential for improving the efficiency of biomass microwave-assisted pyrolysis (MAP). Compatibility optimization of composite catalysts can be facilitated through comparative analysis for the influential mechanisms of absorbers and catalysts. Therefore, decoupling experiments about the MAP of Sargassum and calculations based on density functional theory (DFT) were conducted in this research, to investigate the influential mechanisms of absorbers and active metal. The results show the introduction of both the absorbers (SiC) and active metal (MgO) increase the yields of high-value components, such as hydrogen and hydrocarbons. However, their influential mechanisms are different. The introduction of SiC enhances the heating rate within the reaction zone, shortening the duration of MAP and inhibiting the condensation of bio-oil and the interaction between bio-oil and bio-char, and thereby increasing the bio-oil yield by 4%. The introduction of MgO lowers the energy barriers for macromolecular decomposition and gas generation, promoting the decomposition of bio-char and bio-oil, and thus leading to a 12% increase in the yield of bio-gas. This research conclusion provides a theoretical basis for the optimization and design of composite catalysts.

Keywords: microwave pyrolysis; absorber; catalysts; influential mechanism; sargassum (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: 2025
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