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Biorefinery I: Chemicals and Materials From
Thermo-Chemical Biomass Conversion and Related Proceedings
Processes

2015

Upgrading of Fast Pyrolysis Byproducts for

Material Use with High Value
A. Funke
Institute of Catalysis Research and Technology (IKFT)

M.M. Abbas
Institute of Catalysis Research and Technology (IKFT)

N. Dahmen
Institute of Catalysis Research and Technology (IKFT)

Follow this and additional works at: http://dc.engconfintl.org/biorefinery_I

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Recommended Citation
A. Funke, M.M. Abbas, and N. Dahmen, "Upgrading of Fast Pyrolysis Byproducts for Material Use with High Value" in "Biorefinery I:
Chemicals and Materials From Thermo-Chemical Biomass Conversion and Related Processes", Nicolas Abatzoglou, Université de
Sherbrooke, Canada Sascha Kersten, University of Twente, The Netherlands Dietrich Meier, Thünen Institute of Wood Research,
Germany Eds, ECI Symposium Series, (2015). http://dc.engconfintl.org/biorefinery_I/8

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Upgrading of Fast Pyrolysis Byproducts
for Material Use with High Value

A. Funke; M. M. Abbas, N. Dahmen

INSTITUTE OF CATALYSIS RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY (IKFT)

www.kit.edu
KIT – University of the State of Baden-Wuerttemberg and
National Research Center of the Helmholtz Association
 Outline

Rationale of using char from fast pyrolysis

Example bioliq

Activation and demineralization of fast pyrolysis char

2 03.11.2015 biorefinery I, 27.09.-02.10.2015 Chania/ Greece - Fast Pyrolysis Char Institute of catalysis research and technology (IKFT)
 Fast pyrolysis bio-oil

Moderate temperature and high heating rate (wood):

60-70 % liquid organics
<10 % char
gaseous
Gaseous products

Char represents byproduct of

liquid

low quantity
solid

Yield
Current use
Liquid products

Oxidation to provide process Low heating

rate
heat High heating

Surplus heat & power as Solid products rate

optional products
Temperature

Adapted from:
Hofbauer, H., M. Kaltschmitt, et al. (2009). Energie aus Biomasse -
Grundlagen, Techniken, Verfahren. Springer Verlag, Berlin Heidelberg.

3 03.11.2015 biorefinery I, 27.09.-02.10.2015 Chania/ Greece - Fast Pyrolysis Char Institute of catalysis research and technology (IKFT)
 Ash-containing feedstock

Fast pyrolysis of wheat straw – product distribution

Solids Solids/OC OC/without solids Aqueous condensate Gas Deficit

24 8 44 3 17 4

0% 10 % 20 % 30 % 40 % 50 % 60 % 70 % 80 %Tröger,90
N.,%D. Richter,
100 % et
Fraction of carbon input (wt. %) al. 2013, J Anal Appl Pyr
100:158-165.

Ash increases the yield of (organic) solids

Solids contain significant fraction of carbon
Use of char becomes more attractive

4 03.11.2015 biorefinery I, 27.09.-02.10.2015 Chania/ Greece - Fast Pyrolysis Char Institute of catalysis research and technology (IKFT)
 bioliq® concept for 2nd generation biofuel

Volumetric energy densification in

decentralized units
Economic production of drop-in fuels and
chemicals in industrial scale

Energy density: 2 GJ/m3 25 GJ/m3 36 GJ/m3

5 03.11.2015 biorefinery I, 27.09.-02.10.2015 Chania/ Greece - Fast Pyrolysis Char Institute of catalysis research and technology (IKFT)
 Pilot plant and research platform
Commercial application

TRL 6 bioliq® pilot plant

TRL 5 Process development unit (PYTHON)
TRL 4 Labscale fast pyrolysis

Basic research

6 03.11.2015 biorefinery I, 27.09.-02.10.2015 Chania/ Greece - Fast Pyrolysis Char Institute of catalysis research and technology (IKFT)
 Cascaded approach

Fast pyrolysis bio-oil

Char/
activated carbon

Adsorption
Disposal
application

Revenue must compensate the value

only compensate carbon
addition from
losses due to producing
activation biofuel
(burn off)
Positive impacts
Negligible effectson
ongasifier
gasifierdesign
design
No water gas shift required
No solids, less ash

7 03.11.2015 biorefinery I, 27.09.-02.10.2015 Chania/ Greece - Fast Pyrolysis Char Institute of catalysis research and technology (IKFT)
 Activation procedures
Char from 5 mm wheat straw
(fast pyrolysis at 500 °C, auger
reactor with heat carrier)

Demineralization
(1N H2SO4:HCl 1:1 solution for
Chemical (KOH) 24 h at room temperature) Steam
Activation Activation

Impregnation
Pelletizing
(2:1 wt./wt. KOH:char in H2O at
(fast pyrolysis tar as binder)
60 °C)

Activation @ 700 °C
Activation
(1 h @ 700 °C, N2 50 L h-1,
(1 h @ 750 °C, steam 4.5 L h-1)
4:1 wt./wt.KOH:char)

Washing
(1N HCl and rinsing with H2O)

8 03.11.2015 biorefinery I, 27.09.-02.10.2015 Chania/ Greece - Fast Pyrolysis Char Institute of catalysis research and technology (IKFT)
 Results of different activation methods
45 3500

40 39.8
38 2900 3000
35
2500

BET surface area (m² g-1)

30
Ash content (%)

25 2000

20 19.6
1500

15
1000
10
550
500
5
4 24 0.7
0 0
Char Demin. char Steam Act. KOH Act.

9 03.11.2015 biorefinery I, 27.09.-02.10.2015 Chania/ Greece - Fast Pyrolysis Char Institute of catalysis research and technology (IKFT)
 Characterization of activated carbon

Steam activation: mesopores

Chemical activation: micropores

10 03.11.2015 biorefinery I, 27.09.-02.10.2015 Chania/ Greece - Fast Pyrolysis Char Institute of catalysis research and technology (IKFT)
 Simplifying activation method

Char from 5 mm wheat straw

(fast pyrolysis at 500 °C, auger Ash content 40 %
reactor with heat carrier)

Demineralization
(1N H2SO4:HCl 1:1 solution for Ash reduction to 20 %
24 h at room temperature)

Impregnation
(2:1 wt./wt. KOH:char in H2O at Ash reduction to 15 %
60 °C)

Activation @ 700 °C
(1 h @ 700 °C, N2 50 L h-1,
4:1 wt./wt.KOH:char)
Ash reduction to <1 %
Washing
(1N HCl and rinsing with H2O)

11 03.11.2015 biorefinery I, 27.09.-02.10.2015 Chania/ Greece - Fast Pyrolysis Char Institute of catalysis research and technology (IKFT)
 Activation burn off

100 % 40 %

Ash

60 %

Carbon
40 % 40 %

Carbon

Mass loss due to activation

Mass loss due to activation
considering ash content

Carbon losses due to activation are <40 %

12 03.11.2015 biorefinery I, 27.09.-02.10.2015 Chania/ Greece - Fast Pyrolysis Char Institute of catalysis research and technology (IKFT)
 Summary

Fast pyrolysis char is a significant byproduct if feedstocks with high ash

content are used

It was shown that combined activation and demineralization of fast

pyrolysis char is possible

13 03.11.2015 biorefinery I, 27.09.-02.10.2015 Chania/ Greece - Fast Pyrolysis Char Institute of catalysis research and technology (IKFT)
 Thank you for your attention!

And many thanks to:

Willy Habicht
Thomas Otto
Elisabeth Schröder
Patrick Wenke

Dr.-Ing. Axel Funke

Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)

Institute of Catalysis Research and Technology (IKFT)

Phone: +49 721 608-22391

Email: axel.funke@kit.edu
Web: http://www.kit.edu/

14 03.11.2015 biorefinery I, 27.09.-02.10.2015 Chania/ Greece - Fast Pyrolysis Char Institute of catalysis research and technology (IKFT)