Investigation of the effect of operation conditions on the pyrolysis of biomass

In this study, production of valuable products from biomass via pyrolysis was aimed. Clover waste was chosen as a biomass source. By adding 0.5%, 1.0% and 2% phosphoric acid to the clover waste, pre-treatment was applied in a water bath and teflon reactor at 180 ˚C. In the first part of the study, pyrolysis experiments of biomass and acidic pretreated biomass were carried out in a fixed tubular reactor at different temperatures. In the second part, pyrolysis experiments of untreated and pre-treated raw materials were performed using the Py-GC/MS system. The solid and liquid products were characterized by 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF), X-ray diffractometry (XRD), BET surface area, Scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). After pretreatment with acid, approximately 88% of the ash contained in the clover waste was removed. The highest hydrochar conversion was achieved with 83% at 0.5% H3PO4 ratio. It was observed that the maximum liquid product was reached 44.58%) with 2% acid treated in the water bath at 600 °C pyrolysis temperature. Considering the content of the pyrolysis liquid product, it has been determined that the liquid product obtained by applying simple pretreatments to the biomass can be used as a fuel and chemical substance. It has been determined that solid products can be used to improve soil quality, as biofuels and in the production of activated carbon by developing various methods.