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Catalytic Pyrolysis of Biomass and Waste, 2nd Edition

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A special issue of Catalysts (ISSN 2073-4344). This special issue belongs to the section "Biomass Catalysis".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2023) | Viewed by 4289

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Gartzen Lopez

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Guest Editor

Department of Chemical Engineering, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Campus Bizkaia, Bilbao, Spain
Interests: pyrolysis; gasification; spouted bed; biomass; waste management
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Maite Artetxe

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Guest Editor

Department of Chemical Engineering, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Campus Bizkaia, Bilbao, Spain
Interests: pyrolysis; spouted bed; catalysts; waste plastics; biomass; pyrolysis reforming
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The need to reduce the current dependence on fossil fuels has promoted the development of alternative sources for the production of fuels and chemicals. In this scenario, the valorization of biomass and waste is gaining increasing attention. Amongst the existing valorization routes, chemical approaches have the best perspectives for large-scale implementation. Pyrolysis is an efficient and eco-friendly process that makes it possible to produce fuels and chemicals from biomass and waste. The incorporation of suitable catalysts for pyrolysis is an interesting alternative to improve the selectivity and quality of key products. A wide range of catalysts have been proposed in the literature for biomass and waste valorization. Thus, the use of cracking catalysts—mainly of acid nature—represents a suitable option for the production of fuels and valuable chemicals such as BTX or light olefins. More recently, hydrogen production by combining pyrolysis and in-line catalytic steam reforming over metallic catalysts has demonstrated great potential. Moreover, from a technical point of view, different strategies have also been proposed as the use of the catalyst in a single step (in situ catalytic pyrolysis) or in two-step processes (thermal pyrolysis and the in-line catalytic transformation of pyrolysis volatiles). Therefore, this Special Issue aims to gather the most novel and relevant catalytic pyrolysis studies of different types of biomass and solid waste.

Dr. Gartzen Lopez
Dr. Maite Artetxe
Guest Editors

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Keywords

cracking
steam reforming
biomass
waste plastics
waste tires
fuels
hydrogen
bio-oil
pyrolysis-reforming
deactivation

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 3748 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Catalytic Co-Pyrolysis of Mesua ferrea L. De-Oiled Cake and Garlic Husk in the Presence of Red-Mud-Based Catalysts

by Abhishek Kumar, Janaki Komandur, Vasu Chaudhary and Kaustubha Mohanty

Catalysts 2023, 13(11), 1401; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/catal13111401 - 28 Oct 2023

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Abstract

Utilizing lignocellulosic biomass as a renewable energy source for the production of sustainable fuel is of paramount importance. This study focuses on the catalytic co-pyrolysis of Mesua ferrea L. de-oiled cake (MDC) and Garlic husk (GH) as potential feedstocks for bio-fuel production. The pyrolysis experiments were conducted using a semi-batch reactor under inert conditions at temperatures of 500, 550, and 600 °C, with a heating rate of 10 °C min⁻¹, a particle size below 1 mm, and an inert gas flow rate of 80 mL min⁻¹. The findings reveal that temperature significantly influences the yield of pyrolytic products. However, GC-MS analysis detected higher oxygenated compounds in the bio-oil, negatively impacting its heating value. To improve fuel quality, co-pyrolysis with and without a catalyst for a feedstock ratio of 1:1 w/w was performed. Red mud, an alkaline waste mainly composed of Fe₂O₃, Al₂O₃, and SiO₂, is a hazardous environmental concern from aluminum production and is used as a catalyst. The red-mud catalysts reduced oxygen concentration and increased carbon content, acidity, and heating value in the pyrolytic oil. GC-MS analysis of the bio-oil confirmed that using catalysts combined with MDC and GH significantly decreased the concentration of acidic and aromatic compounds, thereby improving the pyrolytic oil’s higher heating value (HHV). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Catalytic Pyrolysis of Biomass and Waste, 2nd Edition)

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13 pages, 1911 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Biogasoline Obtained Using Catalytic Pyrolysis of Desmodesmus sp. Microalgae: Comparison between Dry Biomass and n-Hexane Extract

by Noyala Fonseca, Roger Fréty and Emerson Andrade Sales

Catalysts 2022, 12(12), 1517; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/catal12121517 - 25 Nov 2022

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Abstract

The present work deals with the production of hydrocarbons in the C5–C12 range obtained from the fast micropyrolysis of a laboratory-grown Desmodesmus sp. microalgae. It compares the properties of this specific fraction of hydrocarbons using or not using transition alumina catalysts during pyrolysis in experiments with both pure dried microalgae and its n-hexane extract. The microalgae were characterised using thermogravimetry (TG) and CHN analysis; the n-hexane extract was analysed through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The pyrolysis experiments were performed in a multi-shot pyrolyser connected online with a gas chromatograph coupled to a mass spectrometer (GC/MS). The composition of the C5–C12 fraction was compared to that of an industrial pyrolysis gasoline. The results of pyrolysis at 600 °C show that the alumina catalyst increases the quantity of C5–C12 hydrocarbon families when compared to purely thermal pyrolysis, representing about 40% of all the dry microalgae pyrolysis products. In the case of n-hexane extract, the C5–C12 area fraction corresponds to 33.5% of the whole products’ area when pyrolysis is conducted with an alumina catalyst. A detailed analysis shows that linear molecules, mainly unsaturated, are predominant in the products. Dry biomass formed more aromatic but less cyclic and alkylated molecules in relation to the n-hexane extract. Nitrogen products, essentially alkylated pyrroles, were produced in large quantities when dry biomass was used but were below the detection limit when pyrolysing the extracts. Thus, the extraction with hexane proved to be an effective way to remove nitrogen compounds, which are undesirable in fuels. The estimated low heating values of the present C5–C12 pyrolysis hydrocarbon fractions (between 43 and 44 MJ/kg) are quite comparable to the reported values for reformulated and conventional industrial gasolines (42 and 43 MJ/kg, respectively). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Catalytic Pyrolysis of Biomass and Waste, 2nd Edition)

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Review

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23 pages, 1766 KiB

Open AccessReview

Preparing Fuel-Range Chemicals via the Direct and Selective Pyrolysis of Disposable Mask Waste for Sustainable Environment

by Xin Gao and Chun-Ran Chang

Catalysts 2023, 13(4), 743; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/catal13040743 - 13 Apr 2023

Viewed by 1493

Abstract

After stepping into the pandemic, it has been entirely not bizarre to wear facial masks to diminish the spreading of viruses in human daily outings. Due to the low expense and stable protection capability, disposable masks are the most widely used types of medical masks. By functionalities and medical standards, disposable masks mainly consist of surgical masks and N95/KN95 respirators in the market. In the assembling scheme, there are typically three or more polymeric layers (i.e., mainly polypropylene) in disposable masks; in addition, the ear loops in masks are usually made from textile constituents, such as polyamides. Therefore, the vast utilization and rapid accumulation of disposal mask waste can directly bring an emerging crisis of foreseeable environmental pollution. To minimize and prevent such mask-led microplastic pollution, chemical pyrolysis of mask waste is one of the most feasible and promising strategies. Via the direct and selective pyrolysis of disposable masks, it can effectively convert the mask waste into high-value fuel-range chemicals, e.g., liquid hydrocarbon blends, aromatics, C_1–5 gas alkanes/alkenes, hydrogen, etc. In this way, it can not only tackle environmental challenges from plastic waste but also afford sustainable fuels with low carbon emission and circular economy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Catalytic Pyrolysis of Biomass and Waste, 2nd Edition)

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