The Production of Pyrolytic Liquids, Gas and Char from Wood and Cellulose by Fast Pyrolysis

Abstract

The fast pyrolysis of cellulose and poplar has been carried out in a Rapid Thermal Processing (RTP) pilot plant in Ottawa (Ensyn) and an Ultrapyrolysis (UP) miniplant in London (U.W.O.). The RTP plant employs an innovative jet mixer reactor rated nominally at 10 kg/h (1 bbl/day). The UP facility uses a vortical mixer reactor rated nominally at 300 g/h. The results are similar. Maximum total liquid yields from cellulose are 88% by mass. Maximum yields of ethylene (a valuable petrochemical), total gaseous unsaturates and total gaseous hydrocarbons from cellulose are 7.3, 10.3 and 18.0 percent, respectively. Char yields from cellulose are negligible. Maximum total liquid yields from poplar are 78% by mass. Maximum yields of ethylene, total gaseous unsaturates and total hydrocarbons from poplar are 6, 8 and 15 percent, respectively. Char yields from poplar are constant over residence time at each temperature investigated, and decrease from about 18% at 500 C to about 3% at 800 C.