Optimisation of biomass catalytic depolymerisation conditions by using response surface methodology.

The aim of this study is to present the optimum operating conditions for reducing energy consumption in the process of obtaining bio-oil from the mixture of sawdust, waste lubricating oil, lime, and commercial catalyst. In the study where the catalytic pressureless depolymerisation (also called Katalytische Drucklose Verölung - KDV) was applied, the operating conditions were analysed with response surface methodology. According to the analysis of variance results, a mathematical model was obtained for specific product yield (bio-oil amount/energy consumption g kW).

Effects of operational parameters on bio-oil production from biomass.

In this study, the production of bio-oil from the pyrolysis of furniture sawdust, waste lubricating oil and their mixtures were investigated under certain operating conditions in the presence of lime and zeolites, by using a laboratory scale horizontal tubular reactor placed in a furnace. The main focus was to investigate the mutual effect of lime and commercial zeolite on the amount of the bio-oil production from furniture sawdust and waste lubricating oil. The selected operating parameters were pyrolysis temperatures and heating rate of 300°C and 650°C and flash heating or gradual heating rate (30°C/min).