Thermochemical conversion of agricultural wastes applying different reforming temperatures

Lignocellulosic biomass is the most abundant renewable resource existing, and presently it is considered as a promising feedstock for the synthesis of green chemicals and biofuels for reducing transportation emissions and dependence on fossil fuels. In this research, a TCR (thermo-catalytic reforming) reactor is used to transform lignocellulosic biomass into high quality bio-oils, biochar and syngas. Sugarcane bagasse (SB) and oat hulls (OHS) were processed in the TCR (2 kg/h) at 450 °C in the intermediate pyrolysis reactor (kept constant) and varying reforming temperature between 500 and 700 °C. This paper studies the conversion potential of SB and OHS into sustainable bioproducts at different reforming temperatures. TCR oils contained the highest calorific value of 34.9 MJ/kg from SB and 35.0 MJ/kg from OHS at 700 °C which makes the bio-oil suitable to be applied as fuel for engines when compared to bio-oils produced from other pyrolysis technologies. SB and OHS pyrolysis gas at 700 °C contained higher H2 yield 30.9 vol% and 31.6 vol%, respectively. The highest gas caloric values of SB and OHS were 18.4 MJ/kg and 18.8 MJ/kg at the same reforming temperatures, respectively. Overall, the TCR results of SB and OHS are promising for waste conversion into sustainable fuels