Catalytic co-pyrolysis of cellulosic ethanol–processing residue with high-density polyethylene over biomass bottom ash catalyst

Chen, B., Yao, Z., Zhang, C., Cheng, S., Zhu, M., Wang, Y., Wu, Y., Cao, H., Watson, I. and Cai, D. (2023) Catalytic co-pyrolysis of cellulosic ethanol–processing residue with high-density polyethylene over biomass bottom ash catalyst. Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery, (doi: 10.1007/s13399-023-03915-5) (Early Online Publication)

Abstract

In this study, the bagasse ash (BA) from biorefinery process was recovered and used as a catalyst in the co-pyrolysis of solid residue from second-generation bioethanol plant with high-density polyethylene (HDPE). The co-pyrolytic behaviors were studied using thermogravimetric analyzer at three heating rates of 10, 20, and 40 K min−1. The synergistic effects between BA and HDPE and their co-pyrolysis kinetics were investigated using two model-free methods: Kissinger–Akahira–Sunose (KAS) and Flynn–Wall–Ozawa (FWO). The pyrolysis products were determined by pyrolysis–gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) as well. The results indicated that the addition of BA could increase the production yield. The average apparent active energy (Ea) of co-pyrolysis was 171.3 kJ mol−1 from KAS and 174 kJ mol−1 from FWO, which were lower than that for catalyst-free pyrolysis (174.8 kJ mol−1 from KAS and 177.3 kJ mol−1 from FWO). The novel co-pyrolysis process showed great potential in improving both the economic and environment sides of the second-generation biorefineries.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: This work was funded by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (Grant No. 2018YFB1501702), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 22078018), the Bingtuan Science and Technology Program (Grant No. 2022DB025), and China Scholarship Council (Grant No. 201906880041).
• Keywords: Ethanol process residual, bottom ash, plastic, co-pyrolysis, biorefinery.
• Status: Early Online Publication
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Watson, Dr Ian
• Authors: Chen, B., Yao, Z., Zhang, C., Cheng, S., Zhu, M., Wang, Y., Wu, Y., Cao, H., Watson, I., and Cai, D.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Systems Power and Energy
• Journal Name: Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery
• Publisher: Springer
• ISSN: 2190-6815
• ISSN (Online): 2190-6823