Valorization of Eucalyptus, Giant Reed Arundo, Fiber Sorghum, and Sugarcane Bagasse via Fast Pyrolysis and Subsequent...

Fast pyrolysis of giant reed Arundo (Arundo donax), fiber sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.Moench), eucalyptus (Eucalyptus spp.), and sugarcane bagasse (Saccharum officinarum) was studied in bench-scale bubbling fluidized bed reactor. Product yields were determined, and detailed physicochemical characterization for produced fast pyrolysis bio-oils (FPBOs) was carried out. The highest organic liquid yield (dry basis) was observed with sugarcane bagasse (59-62 wt %), followed by eucalyptus (49-53 wt %), giant reed Arundo (39 wt %), and fiber sorghum (34-42 wt %). After the pyrolysis experiments, produced FPBOs were gasified in an oxygen-blown autothermal catalytic reforming system for the produced synthesis gas. The gasifier consists of a partial oxidation zone where the FPBO is gasified, and the raw syngas is then reformed over a fixed bed steam-reforming catalyst in the reforming zone. The gas production (∼1.7 Nm³/kg FPBO) and composition (H₂ ∼ 50 vol %, CO 20-25 vol %, and CO₂ 25-30 vol %) were similar for all FPBOs tested. These results show that the combination of fast pyrolysis with subsequent gasification provides a technically feasible and feedstock flexible solution for the production of synthesis gas.