Molecules (Sep 2023)

Investigating the Effect of Operational Variables on the Yield, Characterization, and Properties of End-of-Life Olive Stone Biomass Pyrolysis Products

  • Sina Ebrahim Atakoohi,
  • Elena Spennati,
  • Alessandro A. Casazza,
  • Paola Riani,
  • Gabriella Garbarino

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28186516
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 28, no. 18
p. 6516

Abstract

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In recent years, biomass has emerged as a promising raw material to produce various products, including hydrocarbons, platform chemicals, and fuels. However, a more comprehensive evaluation of the potential production of desirable value-added products and chemical intermediates is required. For these reasons, this study aimed to investigate the impact of various operating parameters on the pyrolysis of end-of-life olive stone, an agriculture and food industry waste, using a tubular quartz reactor operated at 773 K. The results revealed that the product compositions were comparable under batch or semi-batch nitrogen feeding conditions and with reaction times of 1 or 3 h. The product distribution and composition were significantly influenced by changes in the heating rate from 5 to 50 K min−1, while the effect of changing the biomass particle size from 0.3 to 5 mm was negligible in the semi-batch test. This work provides a comprehensive understanding of the relationship between pyrolysis operational parameters and obtained product distribution and composition. Moreover, the results confirmed the possible exploitation of end-of-life olive stone waste to produce high-added value compounds in the zero-waste strategy and biorefinery concept.

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