Liquid Fuels from Biomass Cracking

AbstractDuring the catalytic cracking of agricultural lignocellulosic bio-waste it is possible to obtain a liquid condensate with the yield of the bio-oil is up to 19wt. % in experiments with vegetable oil in input material. Bio-oils originating only from agricultural biomass give the yield of max. 2wt. % with the respect to the input. In the batch process, better results in the yield of bio-oil were found. Cracking of agricultural waste, running in continuous pilot scale reactor with screw mixers at temperatures from 390 to 450°C, results in the significant yield of bio-gasses. The portion of gaseous products varies from 25wt. % (corn combs with vegetable oil, reed) to 62wt. % (dry leaves), depending on cracking conditions, type of biomass, presence of zeolite catalyst or vegetable oil. These gases are flammable and can be used as motor fuel and/or energetic purposes