Novel application of biochar from biomass pyrolysis for low temperature selective catalytic reduction

Biomass pyrolysis is regarded as a promising technology to produce bio-oils for future energy. Biochar generated from the biomass pyrolysis is normally combusted to provide extra heat to the pyrolysis process. In this work, the novel application of the biochar in the field of low temperature selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NOx has been investigated in order to increase the economic value of the biochar. Biochar produced from the pyrolysis of cotton stalk agriculture waste was steam activated and used as a catalyst support for Ce-Mn. The influence of the steam activation on SCR experiment was investigated. The results show that there are two temperature windows during the SCR. The first is between 180 and 240 degrees C, where the material (Ce-Mn-AC1) with less mesoporous shows the highest NO conversion (similar to 20%). The second is after 260 degrees C, where the catalysts with more mesopores and higher acidity show better NO conversion (similar to 55%).