Volume 46, Issue 3 pp. 2674-2697
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Catalytic co-pyrolysis of macroalgal components with lignocellulosic biomass for enhanced biofuels and high-valued chemicals

Benjamin Bernard Uzoejinwa

Benjamin Bernard Uzoejinwa

School of Energy and Power Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China

Department of Agricultural and Bioresources Engineering, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria

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Bin Cao

Bin Cao

School of Energy and Power Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China

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Shuang Wang

Corresponding Author

Shuang Wang

School of Energy and Power Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China

Correspondence

Shuang Wang, School of Energy and Power Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, Jiangsu, China.

Email: [email protected]

Xun Hu, School of Material Science and Engineering, Jinan, 250022, China.

Email: [email protected]

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Xun Hu

Corresponding Author

Xun Hu

School of Material Science and Engineering, University of Jinan, Jinan, China

Correspondence

Shuang Wang, School of Energy and Power Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, Jiangsu, China.

Email: [email protected]

Xun Hu, School of Material Science and Engineering, Jinan, 250022, China.

Email: [email protected]

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Yamin Hu

Yamin Hu

School of Energy and Power Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China

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Cheng Pan

Cheng Pan

School of Energy and Power Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China

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Bin Li

Bin Li

School of Energy and Power Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China

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Chinenye C. Anyadike

Chinenye C. Anyadike

Department of Agricultural and Bioresources Engineering, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria

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Felix U. Asoiro

Felix U. Asoiro

Department of Agricultural and Bioresources Engineering, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria

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Nwoke A. Oji

Nwoke A. Oji

Department of Agricultural and Bioresources Engineering, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria

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Abd El-Fatah Abomohra

Abd El-Fatah Abomohra

Department of Environmental Engineering, School of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu, China

Botany Department, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt

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Zhixia He

Zhixia He

Institute for Energy Research, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China

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First published: 06 October 2021
Citations: 14

Benjamin Bernard Uzoejinwa and Bin Caocontributed equally to this study.

Funding information: Key Research and Development Project of Jiangsu Province, Grant/Award Numbers: BE2019009-4, BK20200894; Key Laboratory of Renewable Energy, Chinese Academy of Science, Grant/Award Number: E029kf0201; Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province, Grant/Award Number: BK20200894; National Natural Science Foundation of China, Grant/Award Number: 52176189

Summary

This study focuses on catalytic co-pyrolysis of a lignocellulosic biomass (rice husk) and main components of the seaweed Enteromorpha clathrata (ie, protein, polysaccharide, and ash) using TGA and Py-GC/MS analytical techniques with the aim and novelty to unveil their catalytic co-pyrolysis thermal behaviors and synergistic effect of interactions between their catalytic co-pyrolysis volatiles for enhanced biofuels and high-valued chemicals production. Thus, in this study, rice husk was treated with macroalgal major components over ZSM-5, MCM-41, and blend of both catalysts using the Py-GC/MS analytical technique to improve the quality of rice husk bio-oil. Thermogravimetric analysis studies of pyrolysis, co-pyrolysis, and catalytic co-pyrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass with seaweed main components were also performed. Effects of HZSM-5, MCM-41, and blend of both catalysts on catalytic co-pyrolysis products distributions were also studied and compared. Results revealed that the quality and chemical compositions of rice husk bio-oil were significantly improved owing to the synergistic effect of interactions between volatiles of rice husk and seaweed main components during catalytic co-pyrolysis. Also, catalytic co-pyrolysis of macroalgal components and lignocellulosic biomass with ZSM-5, MCM-41, and blends of both catalysts were found to considerably reduce the oxygenated compounds, and greatly improved selectivity of monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the bio-oil. However, MCM-41 offered a stronger positive upgrading effect than ZSM-5 catalyst. This could be attributed to its greater ability in raising the selectivity of aromatic hydrocarbons and reduction of activation energies of the degradation reactions. It was also observed that blends of both catalysts offered a higher upgrading effect than ZSM-5 and MCM-41 catalysts alone.

Novelty Statement

  • Catalytic c-pyrolysis of macroalgal components and lignocellulosic biomass with ZSM-5, MCM-41, and blends of these catalysts greatly improved selectivity of monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the bio-oil.
  • MCM-41 offered a stronger positive upgrading effect than ZSM-5 in raising the selectivity of aromatic hydrocarbons and reduction of activation energies.
  • Blends of both catalysts offered a higher upgrading effect than ZSM-5 and MCM-41 catalysts alone.

Highlights

  • Catalytic co-pyrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass with major macroalgal components was performed.
  • Synergistic effect of catalytic co-pyrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass & macroalgal components were unveiled.
  • Effect of HZSM-5 & MCM-41 catalysts on product distributions were studied & compared.
  • Thermal behaviors and mass loss characteristics of degradation processes were unveiled.

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