Effect of catalyst (aluminum oxide) on bio-oil yield from pyrolysis of Pakistani Cotton Stalk

Abstract

Catalytic fast pyrolysis, thermo-chemically converts lignocellulosic biomass into valuable chemicals and fuels. Aluminum oxide anhydrous catalyst was used during experimentation of pyrolysis in fixed bed reactor and found very effective and progressive resulting in higher yield of bio-oil. The bio-oil yield of 57 % was obtained at pyrolysis temperature of 500 °C with non catalytic sample of cotton stalk whereas it was increased upto 61 % with catalytic sample. The net increase of around 4 % of bio-oil yield was attained in the catalytic pyrolysis. The heating values of bio-oil at 500°C were 26.05 MJ/kg for non-catalytic sample whereas 27.52 MJ/kg for catalytic sample. Higher quality fuels with lower oxygen content and greater calorific value were obtained by the application of alumina catalyst in pyrolysis. GC-MS analysis of obtained bio-oil identified the chemical compounds such as dodecanoic acid, n-penta decyclic acid, palmitic acid, 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid, phenols, aromatics, carboxylic acids and esters