Biomass pyrolysis to produce biochar
DIPC Seminars
- Speaker
-
Dr. Andrés Anca Couce, Graz Univerity of Technoloy, Austria
- When
-
2017/07/06
14:00 - Place
- Donostia International Physics Center
- Add to calendar
- iCal
Pyrolysis is
the thermal degradation of a carbonaceous material in the absence of an
externally supplied oxidising agent. The products of biomass pyrolysis in an
inert atmosphere are a black solid material, very porous and mainly composed of
carbon, called biochar; permanent gases; and a pyrolytic liquid (liquid at room
temperature), which is often referred to as bio-oil or pyrolysis-oil and it is
composed by more than 100 species.
Biomass
pyrolysis is a key technology for future bio-refinery concepts, where biomass
conversion processes and equipment are integrated to produce value-added
chemicals, fuels, heat and power. Bio-oil is a promising source for chemicals
and it can also be upgraded to a liquid fuel for combustion engines. Biochar
has plentiful applications, including its use as a fuel, activated carbon after
upgrading, reducing agent in the metallurgical industry, or to improve soil
properties being as well a strong CO2 sink.
The recent
advances in the understanding of the complex pyrolysis process will be
reviewed, including quantum-mechanical calculations which have been performed
to bring more insights into cellulose pyrolysis. Moreover, char structure and
properties will be discussed. Despite several advances since the pioneer work
of Rosalind Franklin, a biochar model structure which fully explains the unique
physical and chemical properties of biochars is not yet available. Biomass char
is a non-graphitizing carbon, in which a complete ordered structure is not
achieved. Therefore, it is a more complex and modulable material
than other carbon forms, which can potentially house more complex functions and
can be, from a scientific point of view, even more interesting and challenging.