Characterization of Selected Pyrolysis Products of Diseased Orange Wood

Orange trees in Brazil are often burned as a means of eradication when they become infected with Huanglongbing disease. Rather than destroying them, which is a low-value proposition, one potential option is to utilize the biomass through pyrolysis. In this preliminary work, orange trees (Citrus sinensis) otherwise selected for purging, were sampled and pyrolyzed at 500 degrees C, and the charcoal and bio-oil were evaluated for potential value-added use. The results showed that the pyrolysis process resulted in 26.3% charcoal, 57.6% bio-oil, and 16.0% non-condensable gases. Qualitative analysis of the bio-oil by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry found 178 chemical compounds; however, only 25% of those compounds could be reliably identified. Potential applications of the compounds identified in the bio-oil were determined by examining the published literature, and it was found that at least 73% of them showed promise. Finally, initial studies on the immediate analysis of the pyrolysis charcoal showed that it potentially meets the standards set forth for Brazilian domestic use.