Evaluation of properties of fast pyrolysis products obtained, from Canadian waste biomass

• Four types of Canadian waste biomass were used for the fast pyrolysis using a mobile pyrolysis unit.
• The effects of pyrolysis temperature were investigated on the properties of pyrolysis products for each precursor.
• Comprehensive characterization of 4 feedstocks collected from 3 main sources of Canadian biomass (agricultural wastes, forest residue and animal manure) was performed.
• Bio-char and bio-oil are characterized to evaluate their energy and agronomic potentials.

Pyrolysis is known as the most common method for the conversion of waste biomass such as agricultural wastes, forest residues and animal manure to value-added products such as bio-oil and bio-char. Four types of Canadian waste biomass including wheat straw, saw dust, flax straw and poultry litter, collected in Saskatchewan (Canada), were used for fast pyrolysis process using a mobile pyrolysis unit. For each biomass, pyrolysis was performed at three different temperatures (400, 475 and 550 °C) to investigate their effects on the properties of products. A comprehensive physical and chemical characterization was conducted for all biomass and pyrolysis products including bio-char, bio-oil and gas phase. Saw dust and wheat straw showed the largest cellulose and lignin contents (37.7 and 20.8 wt%, respectively). Poultry litter had the highest ash content (12.3 wt%). Amount of bio-oil collected from liquid product increased by an increase in the pyrolysis temperature for wheat straw and poultry litter. Total acid number of bio-oil product decreased by an increase in the pyrolysis temperature. Carbon content of bio-char was in the range of 70–81 wt% which was much larger than that for original biomass. The pH for bio-chars derived from the wheat straw and poultry litter was in the range of bases. For all samples, the concentrations of CH4 and H2 in the gas phase increased with an increase in the pyrolysis temperature.