Boosting the Higher Heating Value of Eucalyptus globulus via Thermochemical Liquefaction

Frederico Fernandes, Sandro Matos, Daniela Gaspar, Luciana Silva, Ivo Paulo, Salomé Vieira, Paula C. R. Pinto, João Bordado and Rui Galhano dos Santos
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Frederico Fernandes: CERENA—Centre for Natural Resources and the Environment, Instituto Superior Técnico, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal
Sandro Matos: CERENA—Centre for Natural Resources and the Environment, Instituto Superior Técnico, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal
Daniela Gaspar: CERENA—Centre for Natural Resources and the Environment, Instituto Superior Técnico, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal
Luciana Silva: CERENA—Centre for Natural Resources and the Environment, Instituto Superior Técnico, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal
Ivo Paulo: CERENA—Centre for Natural Resources and the Environment, Instituto Superior Técnico, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal
Salomé Vieira: CERENA—Centre for Natural Resources and the Environment, Instituto Superior Técnico, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal
Paula C. R. Pinto: RAIZ—Forest and Paper Research Institute, Quinta de S. Francisco, 3801-501 Eixo, Portugal
João Bordado: CERENA—Centre for Natural Resources and the Environment, Instituto Superior Técnico, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal
Rui Galhano dos Santos: CERENA—Centre for Natural Resources and the Environment, Instituto Superior Técnico, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 7, 1-10

Abstract: Biomass can be envisaged as a potential solution to mitigate the problems that the extensive exploitation of fossil sources causes on the environment. Transforming biomass into added-value products with better calorific properties is highly desired. Thermochemical liquefaction can convert biomass into a bio-oil. The work herein presented concerns the study of direct liquefaction of Eucalyptus globulus sawdust. The main goal was to optimise the operating conditions of the process to achieve high bio-oil conversion rates. Studies were carried out to understand the impact of the process factors, such as the residence time, catalyst concentration, temperature, and the biomass-to-solvent ratio. The E. globulus sawdust conversion into bio-oil was achieved with a maximum conversion of 96.2%. A higher conversion was reached when the eucalyptus sawdust’s thermochemical liquefaction was conducted over 180 min in the presence of a >2.44% catalyst concentration at 160 °C. A lower biomass-to-solvent ratio favours the process leading to a higher conversion of biomass into bio-oil. The afforded bio-oil presented a better higher heating value than that of E. globulus sawdust.

Keywords: sustainable; eucalyptus; liquefaction; biofuels (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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