Thermochemical conversion of biomass: Gasification by flash pyrolysis study

Thermal decomposition of the basic components of dried biomass (cellulose, lignin, wood) is studied in inert atmosphere. Glucose is studied for comparison. The experiments are performed in an alumina porous bed reactor heated at temperatures between 600 and 1000°C. Flash pyrolysis (heating rate 250°C/s) allows the production of a medium heating value synthetic gas with gas phase conversion thermal efficiency of up to 95 percent. The weight percent of carbon gasified during the pyrolysis reaches 90 percent for cellulose and 70 percent for wood. Light hydrocarbons (CH₄, C₂H₄, C₂H₂, C₂H₆) provide about 50 percent of the energy recovered in the gas. Ethylene represents 5 percent (vol) of the pyrolysis gas. The overall ethylene and acetylene yield is markedly increased at high temperatures for short gas residence times. The pyrolysis reactions are endothermic. The total amount of energy required for pyrolysing wood at 850°C roughly corresponds to 20 percent of its heating value.