Gas fuel production derived from pine sawdust pyrolysis catalyzed on alumina

Pyrolysis gas release behaviour, including hydrogen, CH4, CO and CO2 from pine pyrolysis, is collected from fixed bed reactor and analyzed by gas chromatography (GC). Pyrolysis tar composition is monitored using GC coupled with a mass spectrometer (GC-MS). The gas generation mechanism of catalytic pyrolysis on alumina is elaborated. The carbon structure of char is quantitatively determined by carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance (C-13-NMR) using curve-fitting methods. The results show influence of alumina on gas fuel production is mainly embodied in absorption and catalytic effect. Steam reforming reaction to gas fuel is accelerated with alumina added during pine pyrolysis. Alumina addition accelerates the decomposition of carbonate and side chains of aromatic ring in lignin below 500 degrees C and prolong the residence time of second pyrolysis. The CH4 release rate reaches to peak value at 500 degrees C during pyrolysis. The H-2 increases from 98.95 to 120.19 ml/g with mass ratio of 1/4 (alumina/pine). The CO release rate has a certain increment with the alumina added. These data are the foundation for putting forward a new direction for the reuse of organic and industrial solid wastes enriched with alumina to achieve the goal on energy regeneration.