Fast pyrolysis of rape seed in a well-swept fixed-bed reactor

Fixed-bed fast pyrolysis experiments have been conducted on a sample of rape seed to determine particularly the effects of pyrolysis temperature, particle size, heating rate and sweep gas flow rate on the pyrolysis yields and their chemical compositions. The maximum oil yield of 68% was obtained at the final pyrolysis temperature of 550 degreesC, particle size range of 0.6-0.85 mm, with a heating rate of 300 degreesC min(-1) and a sweep gas flow rate of 100 cm(3) min(-1) (N-2) in a well-swept fixed-bed reactor. Chromatographic and spectroscopic studies on the pyrolytic oil showed that the oil obtained from rape seed can be used as a renewable fuel and chemical feedstock. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.