Influence of torrefaction with Mg-based additives on the pyrolysis of cotton stalk

The study presented an approach to introduce Mg-based additives into cotton stalk for strengthening deoxygenation effect during torrefaction. Then catalytic pyrolysis of torrefied feedstock with Mg-based additives residue as catalyst was performed at 550 °C for 10 min in a fixed-bed reactor. The effects of torrefaction temperature (200, 230, 260, 290, 320, 350 °C), type of Mg-based additive (MgO and MgO-K₂CO₃), mass ratio of additive to biomass (0.5, 1 and 2) on pyrolysis were investigated. The results indicated that yields of bio-char and bio-oil significantly increased and decreased with torrefaction temperature rising to 350 °C. MgO inhibited pyrolysis bio-char yield increase with torrefaction severity. MgO-K₂CO₃ increased H₂ yield a lot from 1.39 to 3.67 mmol/g. It also effectively improved the aromatic hydrocarbons in bio-oil and the reduction of acids. A maximum aromatic hydrocarbons yield of 16.05% was obtained with MgO-K₂CO₃ (the mass ratio of 0.5:1) at torrefaction temperature of 320 °C.