Catalytic fast co-pyrolysis of biomass and food waste to produce aromatics: Analytical Py-GC/MS study

In this study, catalytic fast co-pyrolysis (co-CFP) of corn stalk and food waste (FW) was carried out to produce aromatics using quantitative pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS), and ZSM-5 zeolite in the hydrogen form was employed as the catalyst. Co-CFP temperature and a parameter called hydrogen to carbon effective ratio (H/C-eff ratio) were examined for their effects on the relative content of aromatics. Experimental results showed that co-CFP temperature of 600 degrees C was optimal for the formation of aromatics and other organic pyrolysis products. Besides, H/C-eff ratio had an important influence on product distribution. The yield of total organic pyrolysis products and relative content of aromatics increased non-linearly with increasing H/C-eff ratio. There was an apparent synergistic effect between corn stalk and FW during co-CFP process, which promoted the production of aromatics significantly. Co-CFP of biomass and FW was an effective method to produce aromatics and other petrochemicals. (C) 2015 Published by Elsevier Ltd.