Influence of temperature and residence time in the pyrolysis of woody biomass waste in a continuous screw reactor

The aim of this paper is to study the influence of temperature and residence time in the quality of the charcoal obtained in the pyrolysis of biomass waste, in order to be used as a reducing agent in metallurgical applications. Woody biomass waste (pinus pinaster) coming from forest activities carried out in the north of Spain has been pyrolyzed in a laboratory scale screw continuous reactor connected to a second reactor where the pyrolysis vapors have been thermally treated to promote further cracking, with the aim of diminishing tars and improving the composition of the gas phase. Both the peak temperature and the exposition time at peak temperature have an impact in the pyrolysis fractions yields and composition, however it is at 1173 K where the bigger changes occur both in pyrolysis products yield and composition. In all cases the solids obtained (charcoal) fulfill the requirements to perform as metallurgical reducers. The higher the peak temperature the greater the charcoal quality but the lower the pyrolysis solid yield since secondary pyrolysis reactions consume charcoal. The pyrolysis gases obtained are valuable products rich in CO (22–35 vol%) and hydrogen (35–50 vol%); on the contrary, the pyrolysis liquids obtained are mainly worthless products composed of water and some aromatic compounds (e.g. naphthalene, fluorene & antrhacene).