Selectively improving the bio-oil quality by catalytic fast pyrolysis of heavy-metal-polluted biomass: take copper (Cu) as an example.
Heavy-metal-polluted biomass derived from phytoremediation or biosorption is widespread and difficult to be disposed of. In this work, simultaneous conversion of the waste woody biomass into bio-oil and recovery of Cu in a fast pyrolysis reactor were investigated. The results show that Cu can effectively catalyze the thermo-decomposition of biomass. Both the yield and high heating value (HHV) of the Cu-polluted fir sawdust biomass (Cu-FSD) derived bio-oil are significantly improved compared with those of the fir sawdust (FSD) derived bio-oil. The results of UV-vis and (1)H NMR spectra of bio-oil indicate pyrolytic lignin is further decomposed into small-molecular aromatic compounds by the catalysis of Cu, which is in agreement with the GC-MS results that the fractions of C7-C10 compounds in the bio-oil significantly increase. Inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses of the migration and transformation of Cu in the fast pyrolysis process show that more than 91% of the total Cu in the Cu-FSD is enriched in the char in the form of zerovalent Cu with a face-centered cubic crystalline phase. This study gives insight into catalytic fast pyrolysis of heavy metals, and demonstrates the technical feasibility of an eco-friendly process for disposal of heavy-metal-polluted biomass.
Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China.
Wu-Jun
WJ
Liu
Ke
K
Tian
Hong
H
Jiang
Xue-Song
XS
Zhang
Hong-Sheng
HS
Ding
Han-Qing
HQ
Yu
D028202:Abies / Q000737:chemistry; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D056804:Biofuels / Q000592:standards*; D018533:Biomass; D002384:Catalysis; D002606:Charcoal / Q000737:chemistry; D003300:Copper / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D052918:Environmental Restoration and Remediation / Q000379:methods*; D006358:Hot Temperature; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D009821:Oils / Q000592:standards*; D056951:Photoelectron Spectroscopy; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
D056804:Biofuels; D009821:Oils; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C540010:biochar; D002606:Charcoal; D003300:Copper