(197e) A Comparative Study on Chemical Kinetic Models for the Biomass Pyrolysis Reactions

Energy consumption growing, fuel sources scarcity, rising of fossil fuel costs and greenhouse gas emissions have intensified the urgency for renewable energy sources. Biofuels are considered as one of the keys to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, as well as the high dependence of the energy sector on fossil fuels. Pyrolysis is a thermochemical conversion method used to convert biomass into energy and biofuels. The current stage of the pyrolysis technology requires greater specification of the reaction kinetic parameters to assure substantial yield conversion. This work presents an investigation on the biomass conversion into chemical products, focusing on the kinetic models for the fast pyrolysis reaction. Three pyrolysis models were evaluated through computational simulation with regard to the conversion of waste eucalyptus into fuel and chemical inputs. The models were validated against experimental data and, then, the influence of process parameters on the pyrolysis product composition. At 500 °C, the eucalyptus pyrolysis resulted in 40.49 kgmol.h^-1 of products distributed into three main streams. The liquid phase composition obtained by simulation is in agreement with experimental data, containing products with industrial application.