(295d) Product Distribution From Fast Pyrolysis of Hemicellulose

The goal of this study is to understand the product distribution arising from the fast pyrolysis of hemicellulose. Hemicellulose constitutes about 20-40% of the biomass. With the increasing interest in utilizing biomass as a renewable resource for fuels via the fast pyrolysis route, understanding the pyrolysis behavior of biomass constituents has particular significance. Although several studies have appeared in the literature regarding biomass pyrolysis, they mainly focus on the whole biomass and products classified into broad categories: bio-oil, char and gas. Understanding the distribution of chemical species produced from fast pyrolysis of individual constituents of biomass will potentially help gaining an insight on chemical reactions and possible pathways involved in fast pyrolysis process, which in turn can potentially be used as an information tool for controlling chemical/physical properties of the bio-oil. Previously we have examined cellulose pyrolysis, but relatively little is known regarding the chemical species that are produced from fast pyrolysis of the hemicellulose fraction of biomass. In the present work, hemicellulose fractions were isolated from different types of biomass feedstocks (hardwood, softwood, herbaceous and agricultural waste), pyrolyzed, and the resulting chemical species were quantified. Formic acid, glycolaldehyde, acetol and furfural were identified as the primary products from hemicellulose pyrolysis. The effect of feedstock chemistry, temperature and ash present in the biomass on the yields of these products will be discussed.