The Effect of Boron Minerals on Pyrolysis of Common Reed (Phragmites australis) for Producing Bio-oils

Pyrolysis of common reed (Phragmites australis) stalks were performed in a fixed-bed tubular reactor with (tincal, colemanite, and ulexite) and without catalyst at three different temperatures (400, 500, and 600 degrees C) with a constant heating rate of 30 degrees C/min and sweeping gas (N-2) flow rate of 100 cm(3)/min. The amounts of solid (bio-char), liquid (bio-oil + water), and gaseous products were calculated and the compositions of the bio-oils were characterized by gas chromatography/ mass spectrometry. The effects of pyrolysis parameters, such as temperature and catalyst, on the product yields were investigated. The results show that both temperature and catalyst have significant effects on the conversion of Phragmites australis into solid, liquid, and gaseous products. The highest liquid yield of 34.67% by weight, including aqeous phase, was obtained with 10% ulexite at 500 degrees C. Further, 101 different compounds were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in the bio-oils obtained at 500 degrees C.