Fast pyrolysis of agricultural wastes: Characterization of pyrolysis products

This study deals with pyrolysis of three agricultural wastes (corncob, straw and oreganum stalks) at 500 °C in a fluidized bed reactor. The yields of char, liquid and gas were quantified. Pyrolysis liquids produced were in two separate phases; aqueous phase and oil. Oil yields varied between 35 and 41%, depending on biomass type, whereas the yields of aqueous phases were almost similar, around 6%, for all feedstock. For characterization, oils were fractionated by water extraction into two fractions; water solubles and water unsolubles. Both aqueous phase and water-soluble fraction were analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and high-performance liquid chromatography. In addition, water content and elemental analysis of the oils were determined. Chemical compositions of gas and char products relevant to fuel applications were determined.