Experimental Study on Thermal Pyrolysis of Biomass in Molten Salt Media

Abstract

Pyrolysis of biomass in molten salt media have been conducted in a stainless steel reactor. Five kinds of mixed molten salts were used as thermal pyrolysis media and six kinds of biomass as feedstock. The experiments were carried out under atmospheric pressure and 400–600°C. The pyrolysis oils were examined using some spectroscopic and chromatographic analysis techniques. The effects of the type of molten salts and feeding conditions, reaction conditions, including temperature and space velocity, on yield of liquid product were investigated. This paper reports the feasibility for producing bio-fuels and bio-chemicals through the pyrolysis of biomass in molten salt media.