Performance of a conical spouted bed pilot plant for bio-oil production by poplar flash pyrolysis

• The CSBR pilot plant performs well in the continuous pyrolysis of poplar.
• High bio-oil yields (maximum of 69 %) are obtained in the 425–525°C range.
• Two bio-oil fractions with different properties have been obtained.
• The whole bio-oil has suitable properties for use as alternative fuel.

Poplar (Populus nigra) flash pyrolysis has been performed at the IK4-Ikerlan 25 kg h− 1 pilot plant equipped with a conical spouted bed reactor. Gas, bio-oil and char yields and properties have been studied in the 425–525 °C range. This reactor has been proven to be especially suitable for this process as high bio-oil yields have been obtained, with the maximum being 69 wt.% at 455 °C. The bio-oil has been collected in two fractions: the lighter one, which accounts for 85 wt.% of the bio-oil, has a high water content and is composed mainly of acids and ketones, whereas the heavier fraction has a lower water content and is rich in phenols. These fractions are miscible, obtaining a bio-oil with a water content lower than 25 wt.% and a higher heating value in the 16–18 MJ kg− 1 range.