Novel Staged Free-Fall Reactor for the (Catalytic) Pyrolysis of Lignocellulosic Biomass and Waste Plastics.

Pyrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass and waste plastics has been intensely studied in the last few decades to obtain renewable fuels and chemicals. Various pyrolysis devices have been developed for use in a laboratory setting, operated either in batch or continuously at scales ranging from milligrams per hour to tenths of g per hour. We report here the design and operation of a novel staged free-fall (catalytic) pyrolysis unit and demonstrate that the concept works very well for the (catalytic) pyrolysis of pinewood sawdust, paper sludge, and polypropylene as representative feeds.

Novel Route to Produce Hydrocarbons from Woody Biomass Using Molten Salts.

The thermochemical decomposition of woody biomass has been widely identified as a promising route to produce renewable biofuels. More recently, the use of molten salts in combination with pyrolysis has gathered increased interest. The molten salts may act as a solvent, a heat transfer medium, and possibly also a catalyst.