The effects of different catalysts on the pyrolysis of industrial wastes (olive and hazelnut bagasse)

Pyrolysis of olive and hazelnut bagasse biomass samples with two selected catalysts, namely activated alumina and sodium feldspar, have been conducted in a fixed-bed reactor. Experiments were carried out under certain pyrolysis conditions in a fixed-bed Heinze reactor. The catalyst was mixed with feedstock in different percentages. The effects of catalysts and their ratio (10%, 20%. 30% and 40% w/w) on the pyrolysis product yields were investigated and the results were compared with the results of experiments performed without catalyst under the same conditions. The maximum bio-oil yields for the bio-oils obtained from pyrolysis of olive bagasse were found as 37.07% and 36.67% on using activated alumina and sodium feldspar as catalysts, respectively, while these values were 27.64% and 31.68%, respectively, for the bio-oils from hazelnut bagasse. The oxygen contents of the bio-oils were also markedly reduced while the yield of bio-oil was reduced by the use of catalysts. The pyrolysis oils were examined using some spectroscopic and chromatographic analysis techniques. The results were compared with the petroleum fractions and the possibility of being a potential source of bio-oils was investigated. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.