Thermogravimetic Analysis and Fast Pyrolysis of Milkweed

Pyrolysis characteristics and fast pyrolysis of Milkweed was carried out in a thermogravimetric analyzer and a bubbling fluidized bed reactor. Total liquid yield of Milkweed was between 40.74% and 4.19 wt% between 425-550 °C. The gas yield increased from 27.90 wt% to 33.33 wt% with increasing reaction temperature. The higher heating value (HHV) of the Milkweed bio-oil (organic fraction) were relatively high (30.33-32.87 MJ/kg) and varied with reaction temperature, feeding rate and fluidization velocity. The selectivity for CO₂ was highest within non-condensable gases, and the molar ratio of CO₂/CO was about 3 at the different reaction conditions. The ¹³C-NMR analysis, of the biooil showed that the relative concentration of carboxylic group and its derivatives was higher at 425 °C than 475 °C, which resulted in slightly higher oxygen content in bio-oil. Aliphatic hydrocarbons signals for the biooil were slightly higher at 475 °C compared to those at 425 °C. The pH of aqueous phase obtained at 475 ^oC was 7.37 which is the highest reported for any lignocellulosic biomass pyrolysis oils.