(488d) Solar Powered Pyrolysis of Biomass with Catalytic Oxygen Carrier Regeneration

Concentrated solar energy can power a pyrolysis process effectively to produce fuel and other valuable chemicals from biomass. Presence of metal oxide can enhance the quality of fuel significantly during the pyrolysis process. A Fe-based catalytic oxygen carrier, prepared using the co-precipitation method, was used during the solar biomass pyrolysis process. After the pyrolysis, the char metal oxide mixture was burned in presence of air to recover the metal oxide. The catalytic performance of the iron oxide was satisfactory for more than 5 cycles. The fresh and used oxygen carrier was analyzed using XRD, BET, SEM, and TEM. The oxygen carrier can strengthen the case for a sustainable pathway of renewable fuels and chemicals in an economically feasible manner.