Full Paper

Design, Construction, and Operation of a Fast Pyrolysis Plant

for Biomass
By Christian Gerdes*, Christoph Michael Simon, Torsten Ollesch, Dietrich Meier, and Walter Kaminsky

A continuous fluidized-bed plant (PDU-scale) for fast pyrolysis of lingnocellulosic biomass gives rise to bio-oil yields of
65 wt.-%. The average reactor gas residence time was 1.2 s only. The gas and charcoal yields were 15±20 wt.-%, respectively. The
bio oils were chemically characterized. The main monomeric products of the thermal degradation of carbohydrates are acetic
acid, hydroxyacetaldehyde, hydroxypropanone, and levoglucosan. The process described in this paper can also be used for
disposal of inorganic-, metal-organic-, and chlorine-organic contaminated waste-wood. Inorganic compounds of wood
preservatives are concentrated in the charcoal fraction and can be separated easily. Chlorine-organic wood preservatives are
mostly degraded. The process has been positively tested as a technique for disposal, recycling, and exploitation of industrial
biomass waste (wood waste, grinding grit, fibre sludge, cocoa shell and modern composites like HPL). Bio oil from fast pyrolysis
can be used for the production of energy and chemical feedstock. Research for these purposes is ongoing.

1 Introduction In fluidized-bed reactors that are mainly used for fast

pyrolysis high heating rates and short reactor residence times
In the so-called ªHamburg-Processº, fluidized-bed reactors can be realized [8±11].
proved to be a good remedy for plastic pyrolysis. Therefore,
with help of the University of Hamburg and with financial
support of the German Federal Environmental Foundation 2 Description of the Pyrolysis Plant
(DBU), a fast pyrolysis plant for biomass has been built at the
Federal Research Centre for Forestry and Forest Products The pilot plant (Fig. 1) works continuously with a capacity of
(BFH) [1,2]. 5 kg/h (biomass). A vibration conveyor (2) and a screw feeder
For environmental protection reasons and finiteness of (3) are transporting the feedstock into the fluidized-bed reactor
fossil raw materials, renewable energy sources are in high (4). The volatile pyrolysis products and smaller char particles
political and technological interests. Lignocellulose biomass leave the reactor through the reactor head together with the
like wood has a special status in comparison with other volatiles. Larger charcoal particles leave the reactor directly via
renewable energy sources; it can be transformed to solids an overflow pipe into the collection vessel (13). Micro-char
(carbonization to charcoal), gases (gasification) or liquids particles are separated from the gas flow with a dual cyclone
(fast pyrolysis), and/or chemical feedstock. Fast pyrolysis is system (5). The higher boiling components are separated in the
the most promising of the previous mentioned processes water-cooled heat exchangers (6). The remaining condensable
because the production and use of pyrolysis liquid (bio oil) can components are collected in the intensive cooler (7) at ±10 C.
be separated chronologically and spatially. Bio oil can be Aerosols are separated from the non-condensable gases with
stored and transported. electrostatic precipitators at 2 C (the second is installed for
Pyrolysis is a serious alternative to conventional disposal safety reasons) (8). The gas volume necessary for fluidization is
processes. Due to newer legislative requirements in Germany transported with a compressor through two preheater (11,12)
(TA Siedlungsabfall), deposit of biomass waste will be
impossible. This fact fully described in the literature [3±5].
Fast pyrolysis is a middling temperature process (475 C)
where biomass is heated quickly and with absence of oxygen.
The primarily pyrolysis products are cooled likewise quickly
and condensate to a reddish-brown color liquid with half of the
heating value of conventional fuel oil. In comparison to
traditional charcoal production, fast pyrolysis is a modern
process, of which the special process parameters lead to high
yields of pyrolysis liquids [6,7]

±
[*] C. Gerdes, Dr. C. M. Simon, Prof. Dr. W. Kaminsky, Universität Hamburg,
Institut für Technische und Makromolekulare Chemie, Bundesstraûe 45,
D-20146 Hamburg; T. Ollesch, Dr. D. Meier, Bundesforschungsanstalt für
Forst- und Holzwirtschaft, Institut für Holzchemie und chemische
Technologie des Holzes, Leuschnerstraûe 91, D-21031 Hamburg.
Figure 1. Flow scheme of BFH-pyrolysis plant; (1) Silo, (2) vibration conveyor,
(3) screw feeder, (4) fluidized-bed reactor, (5) cyclone, (6) heat exchanger,
(7) intensive cooler, (8) electrostatic precipitator, (9) flare, (10) compressor,
(11) gas preheater 1, (12) gas preheater 2, (13) overflow container.

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back into the reactor. The remaining gas volume is burned in a
flare (9). For the purpose of analysis, samples can be taken from
the gas flow [12].
3 Design of the Plant
3.1 Reactor and Heating of Fluidizing Gas
All components of the plant, where biomass is pyrolyzed
with gas recycling, are built compactly in a rack made of steel
tube frames.
The reactor itself is relatively small and consists of stainless
steel (material: 1.4841), likewise the fluidizing gas preheater
that is suitable for high temperature use up to 1200 C. The
reactor measures result from the given reactor residence time
(fluidized bed and freeboard) for pyrolysis gas. Reactor
residence time should not be longer than a second, with a total
gas flow (standard conditions) of 15 m3 maximum (due to the
maximum power of the compressor). Before going into the
fluidizing bed, the fluidizing gas can be preheated up to 900 C
temperature.
The plant heating system is run electrically. Due to the
characteristic of pyrolysis processes, the energy input should
be quick to achieve high heating rates in the feedstock and to
avoid thermal stress of the pyrolysis products. Burners are
more effective than electrical heating but they are more
difficult to run. All parts of the plant are made of stainless steel
1.4571. All flanges and connections are built according the
German industry norms (DIN). As seal material 2 mm
graphite-sheet metal is used.
The first fluidizing gas preheater consists of a tube with
three heating rods; with 900 W power each, inside. The
fluidizing gas is passing the heating rods and is heated to a
temperature of 350 C. The gas preheater is isolated and
covered with sheet steel. The second gas heater is directly
connected with the reactor to minimize temperature loss. The
reactor is indirectly heated by two Kanthal-heating half-shells
from outside through the reactor wall. The Kanthal heating
half-shells are made of ceramic-isolation material including
electric heating wires with 2.5 kW power each half. With the
heating half-shells, suitable for temperatures of 1150 C
maximum, it is possible to heat the fluidizing gas above the
reaction temperature in question.
Other plant concepts showed, that heat input by overheated
gas is optimal for biomass pyrolysis. As a result of the
composition of overheated fluidizing gas, undesired coke may
develop, so that overheating of fluidizing gas is not wise for
every plant concept. Therefore plastic pyrolysis is performed
at fluidizing temperatures between 400±500 C, when using
recycled pyrolysis gas for fluidizing [13±15].
Between Reactor and fluidizing gas preheater, a fluidizing
disk is inlayed. The disk consists of a 5 mm stainless steel sheet
with 81 holes and bend tubes welt on, through which the
fluidizing gas is flowing and being distributed over the whole
reactor cross-section.
168 Ó WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH, D-69469 Weinheim, 2002
The heating zone of the reactor heating half-shells is
designed for a standard fluidized-bed height of 330 mm. This
height is caused by experiences with other plants [11,16,17].
The resulting freeboard height of 220 mm does not fit to
standard designs of fluid bed plants. A retail of solids (small
charcoal/coke particles) is intentional to separate pyrolyzed
charcoal particles of small size and low density from the
fluidized bed with the gas stream and help of the cyclone
system (blow-through design).
3.2 Feeding System
The common practice for feedstock transport is to use two
combined feeding screws. This could not be exerted to feed
fibrous, longish wood-splints [12,13]. Wood processing indus-
tries are using drag-bottom plants, special rambling-screws
and/or discharge-rotor systems [18,19]. These systems are
relatively complicated for small-scale application. Hence, the
first dosing-screw has been replaced through a vibration-
channel. Wood-splints trend to bridge formation. Therefore,
the silo was constructed with a longish, quadrate discharge
opening. The connected vibration channel was extended.
Additionally, the silo with a volume of 130 L, was provided
with a magnet vibrator.
The feedstock, transported by the vibration channel, is
falling on the high speed feeding screw (60 rpm), and fed into
the fluidized bed. The flow of cold pyrolysis- or inert gas
assures, that hot pyrolysis gas from the reactor is not able to
penetrate the feed system. The silo and vibration channel are
connected via a quadrate compensator made of silicone.
The stainless steel feeding screw (material 1.4571) is
rotating in a water- or air-cooled screw jacket. The screw has
a diameter of 35 mm, a kernel cross-section dimension of
15.5 mm and a feed-length of 295 mm. Cooling prevents the
screw of coking respectively smelting of feedstock (e.g.,
possible when using plastics) in the feeding system.
The screw pivoted with three ball bearings and the screw-
shaft lead-trough is packed by a stuffing bushing. As sealing
material, a gasket made of graphite/silk/teflon is used.
3.3 Separation of Solids
Solids, leaving the reactor with the pyrolysis gas flow can
accrue from different sources. To the one hand the small-size
particles from the fluidized bed material is blown out the
fluidized bed, on the other hand pyrolysis coke is forming and
blown out of the reactor in terms of small-size particles. Lastly,
a number of feedstock itself contains inorganic percentage
that is leaving the reactor as coked small-size dust. Addition-
ally, pyrolyzed particles of lower weight and smaller size are
carried away by the gas flow.
For solid separation from the gas flow, aero-cyclone systems
are used. These systems are well known in technical processes
of other pyrolysis plants. To achieve high separation rates, in-
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line multi-cyclone systems are necessary. This affects ad-
versely a higher pressure drop and therewith a higher energy
consumption of the compressor. For solid separation, the
introduced plant uses a dual in-line cyclone system. The design
calculations are including a lot of empiric numerical propor-
tions. Generally the separation output and the particle of
critical size are increasing with gas velocity of circulation.
Hence, the perimeter of cyclone has to be chosen as small as
possible although a small perimeter causes higher pressure
drop. For heating the cyclones, the feed line and branching off
up to 450 to 500 C, filaments where installed.
To separate small-size particles from the pyrolysis gas flow
after a cyclone, other working groups developed hot gas
filtration systems. Thereby, problems relating high tempera-
tures (450 to 500 C), choice of materials, cleaning of the filter
and high pressure drop are coming up [20,21].
3.4 Condensation of Liquids
Separation of liquid, after the cyclone system, is performed
by a number of heat exchangers (condensation train) and an
electrostatic precipitator. At first pyrolysis gas is cooled down
to under 200 C by a two-part stainless steel heat exchanger
with indirect water-jacked cooling (material 1.4571). The
condensed liquids are drained via stop-cocks into flasks. A
condensation train, made of standard glass parts, follows the
stainless steel heat exchangers. For intensive cooling, a cooler
with 0.3 m2 heat exchanging expanse is used. The serpent-heat
exchanger is cooled by a cryostat to a temperature of ±20 C.
Thus pyrolysis gas reaches an outlet temperature of 0 C. The
electrostatic precipitators, to separate resisting aerosols, are
built in glass tubes of the type DN 100 with 1000 mm length.
They consist of a spray electrode made of capillary stainless
steel wire (diameter 0.1 mm) and bent stainless steel plates
(1 mm thickness) as earth electrode. The space between spray-
and earth electrode is 45 mm wide. The electrostatic
precipitator works with a power supply with adjustable
voltage outlet of 0 to ±30 kV and 0 to 3 mA power.
3.5 Measurement and Control Technology
For process control and data collection while operating a
plant, different measuring points for temperature and
pressure as well as temperature controlling loops are
necessary. Due to the costs it was renounced to install a
complete automatic control system. Measurements are
collected digitally and displayed in a flow sheet on a computer
screen. Additionally, the most important temperatures are
displayed by temperature regulators and the pressure, before
and after the fluidized bed, as well as before the compressor is
displayed by manometers. This assures knowledge about the
operation state in the case of computer system failure.
Temperatures are measured with NiCr/Ni-thermocouples.
Eng. Life Sci. 2 (2002) 6, Ó WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH, D-69469 Weinheim, 2002
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The fluidizing gas is adjusted with a needle valve on the
suction side of the compressor. The maximum gas flow is
16 m3/h at 1 bar backpressure. A variable area flowmeter
displays the flow of fluidizing gas. A bellow gas meter registers
the fluidizing gas amount, which is necessary for the gas
balance. Another variable area flowmeter allows conduction
of a cold stirring gas flow through the feeding system to
prevent it from reflow of hot pyrolysis gas. Choosing standard
configuration, a third variable area flowmeter is used to flush
the overflow container.
Discharging of surplus gas (pyrolysis gas) is performed with
an unidirectional restrictor valve with 20 mbar response
pressure. It works self-controlled on the suction side of the
compressor. A bellow gas meter (maximal gas flow 6 m3/h)
quantifies the gas flow drained to the flare.
All electric heating are run via thyristors AC controllers
(e.g., combined with current limiting). A thermocouple in the
middle of the fluidized bed is used for controlling the rector
temperature.
3.6 Safety Equipment
A magnetic valve and a tested and certificated standard
safety valve with an opening pressure of 200 mbar built in a
relief pipeline in front of the cyclones serve as automatic safety
system please check. In the case of a failure the pressure of the
plant is deflated after the reactor directly into the flare. The
magnetic valve (current-free open) is opening when pressing
the emergency shutdown (ESD) switch. Therewith, other
parts of the plant are protected against improper high
pressure.
All electric machines and equipment, operated via the
control cabinet, are switched off in the case of an emergency
shutdown. The feed of inert gas is unaffected therefrom, so
that it is possible to flush the plant with inert gas in direction to
the flare. The measuring instruments and the computer for
data collection stay active to assure the control over the plant.
Additionally, manometers on the spot display the most
relevant pressures. This assures the possibility to control the
most important parameters during digital data collection
failures. The whole plant, with a pressure-capacity-product
smaller than 20, is not subject to the German pressure vessel
regulation.
4 Modification of the Pyrolysis Plant
Experiments up to number TP 38 showed constructive
and constructional weak points as well as options for
optimization of the pyrolysis plant. Straight after the first
experiments a second cyclone has been installed to separate
small-scale particles from the gas flow. The second mod-
ification step was the extension of the length and enlarge-
ment of the cross section of the reactor head to reduce the
charcoal and coke discharge into the cyclones. This
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modification was made to refrain from the original blow-
through design, where too much charcoal flew through the
liquid collection system and contaminated the pyrolysis oil.
Primary, the overflow pipe connected to the overflow
container is separating the charcoal particles. The dual
cyclone system remains in operation in order to separate the
small-size particles.
Important for the quality of pyrolysis liquid, beside the
already mentioned parameters reactor residence time and
temperature, is the choice of the condensation method.
Stepwise, fractionated condensation via in-line heat exchan-
gers is not optimal. Pyrolysis products resist too long on a high
temperature level. Condensation is too slow and promotes
unwanted secondary reactions. A further disadvantage is the
need for reunion of the obtained oil fractions to whole oil; here
the oil may separate into two ore more phases. This leads to the
necessity of using solubilizer. According to this, fractionated
condensation is disadvantageous for application of the process
in process demonstration- or industrial scale.
4.1 Construction of a Gas Scrubber
Counteracting the problems mentioned above, a gas
scrubber, used in many industrial plants with comparable
design,hasbeenconstructedandbuilt.Directandquickcooling
of pyrolysis gases using a light spray of hydrocarbon liquid is
effective and leads to a single phase homogeneous bio oil.
The gas scrubber shown in Fig. 2 consists of a vertically
installed stainless steel tube with a spray nozzle flange at the
top. With it, a quench liquid can be injected with the flow of
pyrolysis gas. An entry tube is installed in the vertical
scrubber-tube with an entry angle of 15. The entry tube is
provided with a spray nozzle flange as well. Through the entry
tube hot pyrolysis gases are let into the scrubber. Both nozzle
flanges are connected via pipes, in which the pre-cooled
quench liquid is pumped. Using heat exchangers and a
cryostat, additional cooling is provided with a cooling-jacket,
built around the vertical scrubber tube.
1
5
6 contaminated with several organic wood preservatives. After-
2
4
charcoal
3
475 °C 16 9 10
11
15
8
17
14
oil 7 13
circulating gas
Figure 2. Modified pyrolysis plant for biomass; (1) Silo, (2) vibration conveyor,
(3) screw feeder, (4) fluidized-bed reactor, (5) cyclones, (6) pump, (7) quench
liquid reservoir, (8) heat exchanger, (9) gas scrubber, (10) electrostatic
precipitator, (11) intensive cooler, (12) flare, (13) compressor, (14) gas
preheater 1, (15) gas preheater 2, (16) overflow pipe, (17) overflow container.
170 Ó WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH, D-69469 Weinheim, 2002
5 Short Description of the Modified Pyrolysis
Plant
The main principle of the plant has been fully described in
Sect. 2. Here, the most important changes in the design (Fig. 2)
are discussed. After separation of small scale particles with the
dual cyclone system (5), pyrolysis products are condensed in a
gas scrubber (9). The scrubber is cooling hot pyrolysis gas
directly with a quench liquid from a reservoir (7). The quench
liquid is pre-cooled to 15 C with an heat exchanger (8) before
entering the scrubber. The quench liquid is recirculated
permanently with a mono pump without any loss of liquid. The
quench medium is immiscible with pyrolysis oil and separates
quickly from product oil. Non-condensable gases and resisting
aerosols are passing the electrostatic precipitators with 20±
35 C (10). There, a complete separation of small-scale
charcoal particles and liquids is taking place. A gas fraction is
resisting, which is passing an intensive cooler (0 C) (11) and is
fed back into the reactor as circulating gas through preheaters
(14), (15) by using a compressor.
6 Running the Plant
The first experiments served to test all parts of the plant, to
recognise and to eliminate constructive and constructional
faults. The following experimental series (TP16±24) is
presented exemplarily. The objective has been to fix an
optimum operation temperature of the plant for a high oil
yield. Beech wood (fagus sylvatica L.) has been pyrolyzed at
different temperatures (400±600 C), as the temperature
beside the reactor residence time has the greatest influence on
the expected product spectra [2].
Several feedstocks have been pyrolyzed subsequent to the
experiments for testing the plant and for optimizing to run the
process. On one hand the process should be studied for the
efficiency as a large scale process for recycling of contami-
nated waste wood, on the other hand its efficiency and
flexibility relating the use of real industrial biomass waste for
pyrolysis should be proved.
At first, well defined, homogenous wood samples were
wards, these mixtures were pyrolyzed and the pyrolysis
products were analysed with respect to resisting wood
preservatives. In the following, waste wood accrued from
industrial praxis has been utilized.
12
gas
7 Material and Methods
The company J. Rettenmaier & Söhne GmbH & Co, JRS
Faserstoff-Werk, has supplied the feedstock used in the first
experiments. Its specifications can be taken from Tab. 1. The
most important experimental parameters of the temperature
series TP16 to TP 24 are scheduled in Tab. 2. Quartz sand of
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Table 1. Specifications of feedstock.

feedstock: hardwood (A) hardwood (B)

type: beech, fagus sylvatica L. beech, fagus sylvatica L.
name: LIGNOCEL HBK 750±2000 LIGNOCEL HBK 1500±3000
color: light brown light brown
structure cubic cubic
particle size [mm] 1.2±1.8 2.0±2.5
glow residue (850 C/4h) [%] 1 1
Density [g/L] 290±350 270±330
water content [%] 7.1 9.1

Table 2. Experimental characteristics.

name of experiment TP 24 TP 18 TP 23 TP 19 TP 20 TP 21 TP16 TP 22 TP 17

temperature [C] 407 416 453 470 502 520 550 573 588
reactor residence time [s] 1.2 1.2 1.3 1.3 1.4 1.4 1.5 1.5 1.5
feedstock B B A A A A B A B
particle size feedstock [mm] 2.3 2.3 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 2.3 1.5 2.3
particle size bed material [mm] 0.55 0.55 0.55 0.55 0.55 0.55 0.55 0.55 0.55
experimental time [h] 0.55 0.43 0.82 1.00 0.80 1.00 0.83 1.08 0.78
gas flow (cold) [m3/h] 5.9 5.8 5.5 5.4 5.1 5.0 4.8 4.7 4.6
gas flow (hot) [m3/h] 14.5 14.3 13.5 13.2 12.7 12.4 12.0 11.6 11.4
throughput [g/h] 5455 6923 3673 3000 3750 3215 3600 2769 3830

0.5±0.6 mm particle size has been used as fluidizing bed As internal standard, fluorantene has been added to
material and has been replaced by clean, new sand after each pyrolysis oil samples of each condensed fraction. The
experiment. compounds of each oil sample were separated by gas
chromatography technique (GC/MS), detected, and identi-
fied via MS. Additionally, oil components were quantified by
GC/FID technique. With each peak-area, retention time, and
response factor the main compounds of oil could be
7.1 Analysis quantified. The response factors where determined by GC/
FID-analysis of prepared standard solutions of single com-
The qualitative and quantitative analysis of pyrolysis gas pounds. A sample chromatogram that is demonstrating the
and oil has been performed by gas chromatography. For complexity of the chemical composition is shown in Fig. 4.
identification of pyrolysis products a mass-selective detector
and a specific spectra library with selected pyrolysis products
has been available. Determination of water content has been
performed by Karl-Fischer-Titration. A complete analysis of
bio oil is difficult, since the oil contains higher molecular
weight ratios of degradation products of hydrocarbons
(pentoses, hexoses), and lignin beside the chromatographi-
cally detectable share. In addition, the oil contains polar, non-
volatile components that are only accessible to HPLC (Fig. 3).

10.00 15.00 20.00 25.00 30.00 35.00 40.00 45.00 50.00 55.00 60.00 65.00 [min)

Figure 4. Typical gas chromatogram for the demonstration of the complexity of

bio oil from beech wood.

7.2 Results and Discussion

The influence of the average reactor temperature on the

product spectra has been studied with the experimental series
TP16 to TP24 in 25 C-steps from 400 to 600 C. The thermal
fluctuation amounts to ± 5 C referring to the average reactor
Figure 3. Distribution of accessible bio oil fractions. temperature.

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The mass of each fraction, except the mass of gases, had
been obtained by weighing wood (feed) and the product oil
and char. The mass of gases are determined by calculating the
difference of total in- and output. The mass balances could be
closed to 100 % and are comparable to each other. The in- and
output is rounded t ± 1 g. Using the original experimental
setup without the gas scrubber; four oil fractions accrued:
1. heat exchanger 1; 2. Heat exchanger 2; 3. intensive cooler,
4. electrostatic precipitator.
Fig. 5 shows the yields of three obtained pyrolysis fractions:
oil, gas and char subjecting to pyrolysis temperature. As already
demonstrated with a laboratory scale plant, a maximum oil
Figure 5. Pyrolysis product yields (wt.-%) of beech wood pyrolysis experi-
mental series described in Tab. 2 (calculated on dry feed basis).
yield can be observed at a pyrolysis temperature between 470
and 500 C. The product distribution shows the typical spectra
of fast pyrolysis of wood. 50±70 wt.-% oil yield can be expected,
char and gas ratio rest with 15±25 wt.-%. Reactor residence
time had been sub-optimal with 1.38 s average [23].
Processing the experimental series TP25±38, pyrolysis of
well-defined, contaminated wood had been performed to
calculate better mass balances. Target of these experiments
had been to obtain reproducible and meaningful results.
Hence, inorganic (on CKB-basis), metal-organic (Cu-HDO
and Al-HDO), and 10 different chloro-organic wood pre-
servatives had been utilised. Terminal, waste wood from a
wood-sorting-site of a commercial disposal company has been
included in the study 1).
Relating to wood treated with CKB, Cu-HDO and Al-
HDO, heavy metals are fully remaining in pyrolysis char.
Pyrolysis oil is not contaminated and therefore unrestrictedly
usable. Analysis of experiments with organic wood preserva-
tives showed that they are predominantly degraded during
± demonstrated that 50±60 wt.-% of phenolic compounds could
1) List of abbreviations at the end of the paper.
172 Ó WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH, D-69469 Weinheim, 2002
pyrolysis, whereby degradation is depending on pyrolysis
temperature. At 587 C ratios of 0 to 16.66 wt.-% of 10 studied
additives, which where added in ªworst caseº amounts, could
be recovered. DDT was not found in any of the analyzed oils.
The most stable substances proved to be propioconazole and
tebuconazole.
The additives where utilised in high concentration, pyrolysis
of real contingent would lead to reduction of additive
concentration. Temperatures over 600 C are necessary for
complete thermal degradation of the most stabile preserva-
tives., whereby the yield of pyrolysis oil would be reduced and
the gas yield would increase inevitably [2]. For a technical
application, it should be considered whether a complete
destruction of preservatives is necessary or whether mixing of
oils from non-contaminated oils could reduce resisting
contamination.
Using chloro-organic additives, formation of chlorinated
dioxins and furans could occur. Within the scope of studies
different contingents from a wood sorting site where
investigated. For this purpose cable drums, trelliswork fence,
particleboards, railway sleepers, and window frames where
used for pyrolysis. Non of the obtained oils contained organic
preservatives. Only sleepers had been an exception, here a
broad spectrum of polycyclic aromatics could be found. The
results are correlating, with reference to non-contaminated
wood, to data published before. Beyond it, the plant is useful
to reduce contaminations with organic wood preservatives
and to separate heavy metals.
The next logical step has been the use of industrial biomass
waste in the process described above. It should be determined,
whether biomass other than wood could be converted. Within
the scope of a PhD thesis and with the collaboration of
different companies, diverse biomass waste had been pyr-
olyzed. So far, fast pyrolysis processes all over the world are
merely using well-defined, non-contaminated wood and bark.
Beside traditional waste-wood recycling companies, wood
processing industries, like furniture, panel boards, or charcoal
producers are interested in suggestive and new recycling and
disposal processes. Therefore, beech wood waste of a charcoal
producer has been pyrolyzed.
Today, paper recycling is a common practice in paper
business. With each cycle, the paper fibers become shorter.
After several cycles the fibers are too short to make paper of
acceptable quality. This is also valid for the production of new
paper. Ultimately, there were at least 1.9 million tons of sludge
from paper recycling in 1997. A German paper mill supplied
the fiber sludge used for pyrolysis [24,25].
Producers of modern composite materials, e.g., high
pressure laminates (HPL), are searching for recycling
processes for their used-up products and production residues.
These processes permit recycling of both the macromolecular
polymers and the biomass so that monomers can be recovered
as well. For example, HPL is produced with an amount of
30 wt.-% phenol-formaldehyde resole resins. It could be
be recovered via pyrolysis.
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Feedstock like grinding grit from a panel board producer or
cocoa shell of a German cocoa roasting company could be
converted with a much smaller (200 g/h feed) laboratory scale
pyrolysis plant of similar design. The results where promising.
The plant runs without problems and leads to good oil yields.
Detailed results of the experiments presented in this paper are
already open to public [7,11,23,26,27].
The product fraction pyrolysis oil consists of condensable
product gases and separated aerosols. Contrary to mineral oil,
a distillation of pyrolysis oil is not possible because of its
thermal instability.
The oil fractions from three heat exchangers, respectively
from the scrubber and the electrostatic precipitators, are
analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively and are summed in
the mass balance. A comparison of a separation capacity of
each heat exchanger is not useful because of the missing
regulation and control of cooling capacity. Condensation
ranges could not be fixed.
It is difficult to define quality characteristics for pyrolysis oil.
There are a few working groups who are dealing with
application of physical and chemical analysis techniques on
pyrolysis oil. An important criterion for the quality of the
process and the pyrolysis oil is the ratio of reaction water, which
is the total water amount minus wood moisture. Too much
reaction water (40 wt.-% and more) is an indicator for unwanted
cracking reactions during pyrolysis. Cracking reactions lead to
lower oil yields and phase separations into a tarry and a watery
fraction. The reaction water ratio of the experiments TP16±24
shows a constant gradient and demonstrates applicability of the
plant to produce high-quality bio oils [28].
8 Outlook
Bio oil can be used thermally or as a source for chemical
feedstock [29±32]. Several investigations for thermal use of
pyrolysis liquids exist, but results are published only partly
because they are obtained in presently ongoing research. Due
to special characteristics of bio oil in comparison to mineral
oil, burners and engines have to be adapted (Tab. 3).
Parallel to investigations relating to thermal use, there are a
few works, that are concentrating on the substantial use of
pyrolysis oil. Thereby the use of single fractions is coming to
the fore. A watery extract of bio oil provides a smoke flavor
Table 3. Typical characteristics of bio- and mineral oil.
bio oil mineral oil
solids [wt.-%] 0.04 ± [13] Diebold, J. P., in: Advances in Thermochemical Biomass Conversion,
pH 2.6 ± (Bridgwater, A. V., Ed.), Blackie Academic & Professional, London
water content [wt.-%] 20 0.03
viscosity (50 C), [cSt] 30 6 [15] Koch, J., PhD Thesis, University of Hamburg 1995.
density (15 C), [g/cm3] 1.24 0.89
lower heating value (Hu), [MJ/kg] 17 40
ash content [wt.-%] 0.03 0.01
Eng. Life Sci. 2 (2002) 6, Ó WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH, D-69469 Weinheim, 2002
Full Paper
fraction that is already used commercially as liquid smoke in
food industry in the USA and Canada. Also in Europe, liquid
smoke is coming to the market. Phenolic compounds of
thermal lignin degradation can be used in formulation of
resins for woody materials. Further investigations for a
complete commercial use of pyrolysis oil from biomass would
be desirable [33].
Technology of fast pyrolysis via fluidized-bed reactors is
considered to as fully developed. Now, pilot- and industrial
scale plants are required to bring the described process on the
market.
Received: February 27, 2002 [F 005]
Abbreviations
PDU process demonstration unit
TP Technicum scale pyrolysis
Al-HDO synonym for: Xyligen-Al, salt of:
n-nitroso-n-cyclohexylhydroxylamin,-
tris-(n-cyclohexyldiazenium-dioxy)-Al
HPL high-pressure-laminate
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Eng. Life Sci. 2 (2002) 6