Catalytic Effect of Inorganic Components on the Yield of Levoglucosan from Wood Pyrolysis

Abstract

Four kinds of wood materials were pyrolyzed in a fluidized bed under nitrogen gas atmosphere in the temperature range of 350-550°C. The catalytic effect of inorganic components on the pyrolysis was investigated, and the method of washing treatment of the wood materials for increasing the yield of levoglucosan from the pyrolysis was studied.
Experimental results indicated that the removal of most inorganic components by dilute acid washing could improve the yield of levoglucosan by 6-9%. In addition, the yields of pyrolysis products were found to be exponential functions of the ash content. Also, the catalytic activity of K and Na was larger than that of Ca and Mg in the secondary pyrolysis of tar and levoglucosan.