Comparison of Pyrolysis Liquids from Continuous and Batch Biochar Production—Influence of Feedstock Evidenced by FTICR MS
Wolfram Buss,
Jasmine Hertzog,
Julian Pietrzyk,
Vincent Carré,
C. Logan Mackay,
Frédéric Aubriet,
Ondřej Mašek
Affiliations
Wolfram Buss
UK Biochar Research Centre, School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh, Crew Building, Alexander Crum, Brown Road, Edinburgh EH9 3FF, UK
Jasmine Hertzog
LCP-A2MC, FR 2843 Institut Jean Barriol de Chimie et Physique Moléculaires et Biomoléculaires, FR 3624 Réseau National de Spectrométrie de Masse FT-ICR à très Haut Champ, Université de Lorraine, ICPM, 1 Boulevard Arago, CEDEX 03, 57078 Metz, France
Julian Pietrzyk
UK Biochar Research Centre, School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh, Crew Building, Alexander Crum, Brown Road, Edinburgh EH9 3FF, UK
Vincent Carré
LCP-A2MC, FR 2843 Institut Jean Barriol de Chimie et Physique Moléculaires et Biomoléculaires, FR 3624 Réseau National de Spectrométrie de Masse FT-ICR à très Haut Champ, Université de Lorraine, ICPM, 1 Boulevard Arago, CEDEX 03, 57078 Metz, France
C. Logan Mackay
SIRCAMS, School of Chemistry, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3FJ, UK
Frédéric Aubriet
LCP-A2MC, FR 2843 Institut Jean Barriol de Chimie et Physique Moléculaires et Biomoléculaires, FR 3624 Réseau National de Spectrométrie de Masse FT-ICR à très Haut Champ, Université de Lorraine, ICPM, 1 Boulevard Arago, CEDEX 03, 57078 Metz, France
Ondřej Mašek
UK Biochar Research Centre, School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh, Crew Building, Alexander Crum, Brown Road, Edinburgh EH9 3FF, UK
Bio-oils from biomass pyrolysis can be a resource for upgrading to chemicals or fuels. Here, for the first time, we compare the composition of bio-oils produced from two feedstocks (wheat straw, softwood) in pyrolysis units of different mode of operation (continuous—rotary kiln vs. batch) using Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FTICR MS) in different ionization modes (APPI (+), ESI (+/−)). Our results demonstrate that the pyrolysis unit design had only a minor influence on the composition of bio-oils produced from low-mineral containing wood biomass. Yet, the wheat straw-derived bio-oil produced in the continuous unit comprised lower molecular weight compounds with fewer oxygen-containing functional groups and lower O/C and H/C ratios, compared to bio-oils from batch pyrolysis. Longer residence time of vapours in the heated zone in the rotary kiln and a higher mineral content in wheat straw resulted in increased catalytically-mediated secondary reactions that favoured further bio-oil decomposition. This work shows for the first time that it is possible to produce distinct bio-oils without the need for external catalyst addition, by matching reactor type/design and feedstock.
