Chemical composition of bio-oil produced by co-pyrolysis of biopolymer/polypropylene mixtures with K2CO3 and ZnCl2 addition

The chemical composition of liquid products of cellulose and lignin co-pyrolysis with polypropylene at 450 °C with and without the potassium carbonate or zinc chloride as an catalyst was investigated. The yield of liquid products of pyrolysis was in the range of 26–45 wt% and their form was liquid or semi-solid highly depending on the composition of sample and pyrolysis conditions. The potassium carbonate and zinc chloride addition to blends has also influenced the range of samples decomposition as well as the chemical composition of resulted bio-oils. All bio-oils from biopolymer and polypropylene mixtures were three-phase (water, oil and solid). While zinc chloride acted as catalyst, all bio-oils obtained from biopolymer and polypropylene mixtures were yellow liquids with well-separated water and oil phases. All analyses proved that the structure and quality of bio-oil strongly depends on both the composition of the blend and the presence of the additive. The FT-IR and GC–MS analyses of oils showed that oxygen functionalities and hydrocarbons contents highly depend on the composition of biomass/polypropylene mixture. Results confirmed the significant removal and/or transformation of oxygen containing organic compounds, i.e. levoglucosan, 1,6-anhydro-β-d-glucofuranose and phenol derivatives due to the zinc chloride presence during pyrolysis process. All analyses showed that zinc chloride as catalyst was generally much more effective for removal of hydroxyl and methoxy groups than was potassium carbonate. It was demonstrated in this study that catalysts used in present work lead to the increased char yield and improved the fuel quality of bio-oil.

► Co-pyrolysis of biopolymer and polypropylene in the presence of catalyst.
► Blending biopolymers and polypropylene increases the carbon and hydrogen contents of resultant bio-oils.
► Enhanced the transformation of levoglucosan and the formation of levoglucosenone and 1,4:3,6-dianhydro-α-d-glucopyranose in ZnCl2 presence.
► Zinc chloride promotes charring reactions accompanied by the dehydratation of bio-oil.