Numerical analysis for kinetics and yield of wood biomass pyrolysis

Abstract

Solution of ODEs set describing the pyrolysis of wood biomass, on the basis of cellulose, hemicelluloses, and lignin content of investigated materials is proposed as simple but effective tool for estimating the yield of pyrolysis of various biomasses available as by-products of typical agricultural activities in South of Italy. The pyrolysis of wood biomass represents a valid technique for recovering biofuel from residues of forestry and other activities, in agriculture as in industry, where wood and other plant residues are available. Wood biomass is essentially a composite material, the major constituents being cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, organic extractives, and inorganic minerals. The weight percent of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin varies in different species of wood biomass. Results show that hazelnut shells and poplar prunings give high yield in fuel (gas and tar vapors) between 700 and 900 K, both for conventional slow pyrolysis and for fast pyrolysis, whereas olive tree prunings and chestnut wood residues give an appreciable yield (higher than 70%) only for temperatures above 900 K for fast pyrolysis. Sunflower residues, characterized by higher content of non-CHL compounds, give the lower yield in fuel for all the investigated conditions.