Pyrolysis of Nordic biomass types in a cyclone pilot plant — Mass balances and yields

• Five different biomass types were pyrolysed in a pilot cyclone reactor.
• Organic liquid yields from most of the feedstocks were in the range 41–45% w/w.
• The yield of water soluble molecules was higher in the condensed oil fraction.
• The yield of heavy lignin molecules was higher in the aerosol oil fraction.
• Reed canary grass and willow were considered to be especially promising feedstocks.

Fast pyrolysis of biomass results in a renewable product usually denoted pyrolysis oil or bio-oil, which has been suggested to be used as a direct substitute for fuel oil or as a feedstock for production of transportation fuels and/or chemicals. In the present work, fast pyrolysis of stem wood (originated from pine and spruce), willow, reed canary grass, brown forest residue and bark has been performed in a pilot scale cyclone reactor. The experiments were based on a biomass feeding rate of 20 kg/h at three different reactor temperatures. At the reference condition, pyrolysis of stem wood, willow, reed canary grass, and forest residue resulted in organic liquid yields in the range of 41 to 45% w/w, while pyrolysis of bark resulted in lower organic liquid yields. Two fractions of pyrolysis oil were obtained, denoted as the condensed and the aerosol fraction. Most of the water soluble molecules were collected in the condensed fraction, whereas the yield of water insoluble, heavy lignin molecules was higher in the aerosol fraction. Based on the results of the present work, willow, reed canary grass and forest residue are considered as promising raw materials for production of pyrolysis oil in a cyclone reactor.

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