Characteristics of bio-oil from continuous fast pyrolysis of Prosopis juliflora

The main scope of this study was to evaluate continuous fast pyrolysis method and the quality of bio-oil produced from Prosospis juliflora on a self-designed Blade Type Reactor (BTR). The bio-oil was produced at 450 degrees C and characterised for ultimate and proximate analysis. For each batch of biomass feed stock, the BTR had conversion efficiency into bio-oil of 50%, 19% syngas, and the rest biochar. The bio-oil produced was characterised by TGA, FTIR, GC-MS, H-1 NMR and C-13 NMR to understand the thermal behaviour and evaluate chemical composition. The results from TGA analysis indicate that the bio-oil contains about 6% wt of water and its constituents are stable up to 160 degrees C, before starting to degrade completely by 360 degrees C. The bio-oil contain more than 20 different organic compounds, including phenolic, carbonyl, furfural and toluene. As a blending agent, the performance of the 35% bio-oil blended diesel was slightly higher than pure fossil diesel when the engine was operated at full load condition. Further, the bio-oil exhibited antibacterial properties, tested against a few selected bacterial pathogens. In brief, the bio-oil from P. juliflora has potential as a blending agent to diesel primarily (for biodiesel) and secondly for some antibacterial purposes. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.