Thermochemical treatment of biomass in a flow of steam or in a mixture of steam and carbon dioxide

Simultaneous pyrolysis and gasification of biomass samples of different origin is performed in a flow of steam or in a mixture of steam and carbon dioxide. Wastes from birch wood, olive stones, bagasse, and pellets from straw and Miscanthus are used as feedstock. The raw materials are heated with 10 degrees C/min to 750 degrees C at atmospheric pressure and kept for a period of 2 h at this temperature, Laboratory experimental equipment with a horizontal rotating stainless steel reactor is used. The oxygen-containing functional groups in the solid products (-COOH, =CO and -OH) are determined using the method of Boehm. The results are compared with those obtained in treatment in inert atmosphere as well as with those obtained in a stationary reactor. The rotating pyrolysis reactor seems suitable for production of energy-rich gaseous products and activated carbons. (C) 2000 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.