Microwave enhanced pyrolysis of gumwood

Kaiqi Shi, Tao Wu, Jiefeng Yan, Haitao Zhao, Philip Hall, Edward Lester

Research output: Chapter in Book/Conference proceedingBook Chapterpeer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Microwave pyrolysis of biomass has gained increasing interests due to the fact that microwave heating provides a volumetric heating and instant heating at improved heating efficiencies compared with conventional heating techniques. In this study, microwave-enhanced pyrolysis of gumwood was carried out at 500 °C with silicon carbide as a microwave absorber. Conventional pyrolysis of gumwood was also studied under the same temperature conditions as that of microwaveenhanced pyrolysis. The yields of pyrolytic products, morphology of bio-char, and composition of bio-oil and bio-gas are analyzed by using Scanning Electron Microscope, Gas Chromatograph/Mass Spectrum and Gas Chromatograph respectively. The yields of pyrolytic bio-oil and bio-gas under microwave heating are 8.52 and 73.26 wt.% respectively, which are higher than the products obtained via conventional methods under similar operating conditions. In microwave-enhanced pyrolysis, numerous carbon nano tubes (CNTs) are formed on the surface of the bio-char. The bio-oil obtained by microwave pyrolysis has simpler constituents compared with conventional pyrolytic bio-oil. The proportions of syngas (H2 + CO) and methane (CH4) in the gas product produced under microwave-enhanced pyrolysis are 62.52 and 22.41 vol.% respectively, which are higher than that of gas product from conventional pyrolysis. It is clear that microwave-enhanced pyrolysis has shown the potential as an alternative method for biomass conversion.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProgress in Sustainable Energy Technologies
Subtitle of host publicationGenerating Renewable Energy
PublisherSpringer International Publishing
Pages699-708
Number of pages10
Volume1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2014

Keywords

  • Biomass
  • Microwave
  • Pyrolysis
  • Syngas

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Energy

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