Pirólise rápida do bagaço de sorgo sacarino: influência da temperatura, de aditivos e de catalisadores

Abstract

Global economic growth and the deep concerns for human quality of life make it imperative to discover new technologies for generating renewable energy. Lignocellulosic biomass can be used as an alternative for energy production via thermochemical conversion processes such as pyrolysis. Sweet sorghum, fifth cereal in importance in the world, is a very attractive biomass source for biofuels. This work aimed to study the fast pyrolysis process of sweet sorghum bagasse through the characterization and study of the thermal decomposition of this biomass, evaluating the influence on the composition of the products of analytical pyrolysis through the addition of two inorganic chlorides (ZnCl2 and MgCl2.6H2O) and the use of two types of catalysts: ZSM-5 zeolite, commonly used in the fast pyrolysis of biomass and the niobic acid HY-340, still little explored in pyrolysis reactions. In addition, tests were performed in a fluidized bed unit where the results were compared with those obtained in the analytical pyrolysis. The thermogravimetric tests were performed at heating rates of 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25°C/min. The bagasse decomposition kinetics was studied using two isoconversional models, which showed activation energy values between 106.2 and 203.3 kJ/mol, and by the independent parallel reaction model, which indicated the occurrence of 3 distinct reactions with different kinetics, which correspond to degradation of its main components. The calculated activation energy values range between 65.3 and 212.0 kJ/mol and pre-exponential factors presented results were between 2,0 104mol-2l2s-1 and 5,0 1016s-1. The addition of inorganic salts affects the degradation profile of biomass. Then, the analytical pyrolysis of bagasse was carried out, either neat as added to salts or impregnated with catalysts. The increase in the reaction temperature tests with pure biomass indicated an increase in the olefin content, especially isoprene, and reduction of the oxygen content. The addition of both salts increased content of furfural, while the ZnCl2 showed the best results for the production of this compound when compered to MgCl2. With the presence of ZSM-5 there was a significant increase in aromatics formation and a decrease in production of oxygen with increasing catalyst ratio at all studied temperatures. Considering HY-340, there was an increase in furans formation with the addition of catalyst in (1: 1) and (1: 2) ratios and a decrease in oxygen formation with increasing biomass/catalyst ratio at all studied temperatures. Comparing the major compounds identified in tests in fluidized bed unit at 550°C with those obtained in tests of PY-GC/MS, acetic acid, isoprene and furfural were found in both analyzes. Limonene was identified in bio-oil, but not in the analytical pyrolysis. The 2,3-dihydrobenzofuran, and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural were produced in the micropyrolysis, but its presence has not been identified in bio-oil.