Optimisation and statistical analysis of performance parameters for bio-oil production from eucalyptus leaves using fast pyrolysis

This work aims to utilise the experimental approach to perform the optimisation of processing parameters affecting the bio-oil yield in fast pyrolysis. It is required to provide insight into the operation and design of fast pyrolysis processes. Experiments on fast pyrolysis using eucalyptus leaves as biomass were performed in a fixed bed (tubular) reactor with reactor temperature and biomass size varied at three levels (325 degrees C, 350 degrees C, 375 degrees C reactor temperature and 100 mm, 50 mm, 25 mm biomass particle size). In this case, full factorial design of experiment methodology was used for comparison of experimental and predicted values of the obtained liquid yield. It was observed that the reactor temperature and particle size have a significant role on quality and product yield during fast pyrolysis. Optimised conditions were 52.7% wt liquid yield at 350 degrees C reactor temperature and average 50 mm biomass particle size.