Maider Amutio

University of the Basque Country | UPV/EHU · Chemical Engineering

Biomass Fast Pyrolysis and in line Steam Reforming (PY-SR) is promising alternative for H2 production. However, there are potential strategies for intensifying the process, such as capturing the CO2 in situ in the reforming step, which is so-called Sorption Enhanced Steam Reforming (SESR). Both PY-SR and PY-SESR were simulated using a thermodynamic...

This study evaluates the potential of several biomasses differing in nature and composition for their valorization by pyrolysis and in line oxidative steam reforming. The first task involved the fast pyrolysis of the biomasses in a conical spouted bed reactor (CSBR) at 500 °C, in which product yields were analyzed in detail. Then, the oxidative ste...

This study analyzes the two step process of biomass pyrolysis and in-line steam reforming for the production of H2. In order to evaluate the effect of the volatile composition on the commercial Ni/Al2O3 catalyst performance and stability, biomass pyrolysis step was conducted at different temperatures (500-800 ºC). The analysis of the deactivated ca...

The fast deactivation of the reforming catalyst greatly conditions H2 production from biomass. In order to alleviate this problem, use of conditioning catalysts in a previous conditioning step has been proposed to modify the pyrolysis volatile stream reaching the reforming catalyst. The experimental runs have been conducted in a two-step reactor sy...

A study was carried out on the valorization of different waste plastics (HDPE, PP, PS and PE), their mixtures and biomass/HDPE mixtures by means of pyrolysis and in line oxidative steam reforming. A thermodynamic equilibrium simulation was used for determining steam reforming data, whereas previous experimental results were considered for setting t...

The steam pyrolysis of pinewood sawdust has been conducted in a bench scale plant provided with a conical spouted bed reactor (CSBR). This process is of uttermost relevance for the in-line valorisation of pyrolysis volatiles, specifically for their catalytic steam reforming for hydrogen production. The influence of temperature on he product yields...

Biomass pyrolysis and the in-line catalytic cracking of the pyrolysis volatile stream has been approached in this study. The pyrolysis step was carried out in a conical spouted bed reactor at 500 °C, whereas the inert sand or the cracking catalysts (γ-Al2O3, spent FCC and olivine) were placed in a fixed bed reactor at 600 °C. Product analysis was c...

The performance of Fe/olivine catalysts was tested in the continuous steam gasification of sawdust in a bench scale plant provided with a fountain confined conical spouted bed reactor at 850 °C. Olivine was used as catalyst support and loaded with 5 wt% Fe. The activity and stability of the catalyst was monitored by nitrogen adsorption-desorption,...

The performance of fixed and fluidized bed reactors in the steam reforming of biomass fast pyrolysis volatiles was compared, with especial attention paying to the differences observed in catalysts deactivation. The experiments were carried out in continuous regime in a bench scale unit provided with a conical spouted bed for the pyrolysis step. The...

The influence of the metal selected as catalytic active phase in the two-step biomass pyrolysis-catalytic reforming strategy has been analyzed. The pyrolysis step was carried out in a conical spouted bed reactor at 500 °C, whereas steam reforming was performed in a fluidized bed reactor at 600 °C. Ni/Al2O3, Co/Al2O3 and two bimetallic Ni-Co/Al2O3 c...

The joint process of pyrolysis-steam reforming is a novel and promising strategy for hydrogen production from biomass; however, it is conditioned by the endothermicity of the reforming reaction and the fast catalyst deactivation. Oxygen addition may potentially overcome these limitations. A thermodynamic equilibrium approach using Gibbs free energy...

This work pursues the validation of a new reactor for the evaluation of char gasification kinetics. This novel reactor allows continuous gas flow through the fixed bed sample and accurately monitoring the mass loss throughout the reaction. Accordingly, this thermogravimetric flow reactor has a great potential for the analysis of different thermoche...

A Ni/Al2O3 catalyst has been modified incorporating CeO2 and MgO promoters in order to improve its performance in the steam reforming of biomass pyrolysis volatiles. Ni/Al2O3, Ni/CeO2-Al2O3 and Ni/MgO-Al2O3 catalysts have been prepared and fresh and deactivated catalysts have been characterized by N2 adsorption/desorption, X-ray Fluorescence (XRF),...

The effect of La2O3 addition on a Ni/Al2O3 catalyst has been studied in the biomass pyrolysis and in-line catalytic steam reforming process. The results obtained using homemade catalysts (Ni/Al2O3 and Ni/La2O3-Al2O3) have been compared with those obtained using a commercial Ni reforming catalyst (G90LDP). The pyrolysis step has been performed in a...

The performances of the primary catalysts olivine, dolomite, γ-alumina and FCC spent catalyst were evaluated in the continuous steam gasification of sawdust in a bench-scale plant equipped with a fountain confined conical spouted bed reactor. The experiments were carried out at 850 °C, and the efficiency of the gasification process was defined by g...

This study investigates the effect the pyrolysis reactor and the condensing system type have on the tyre derived oil (TDO) and dl-limonene yield, as well as benzothiazole concentration in the TDO. All the experiments were performed at 475 °C and three technologies were investigated, fixed bed reactor (FBR), bubbling fluidised bed reactor (BFBR) and...

A study has been carried out of the influence calcination conditions of a Ni/MgO-Al2O3 catalyst have on its performance and stability in the reforming of biomass fast pyrolysis volatiles. Accordingly, the first calcination temperature subsequent to promoter impregnation on the Al2O3 has been modified from 900 to 700 °C. Subsequently, Ni was incorpo...

Biomass fast pyrolysis in a conical spouted bed reactor has been modeled by coupling a kinetic model with reactor hydrodynamics. The kinetic model proposed considers the influence of the two main parameters affecting the pyrolysis process, which are reaction temperature and residence time. Thus, the reaction scheme contemplates three parallel react...

Pinewood sawdust and the waste rubber from truck tyres have been co-pyrolysed in order to improve the properties of bio-oil for its integration in oil refineries. In addition, an analysis has been conducted of the effect the interactions between these two materials’ pyrolysis reactions have on product yields and properties. Biomass/tyre mixing rati...

A study was carried out on the effect the evolution of the porous structure and metal content have on the gasification rate during char gasification in a conical spouted bed reactor. Partially gasified samples at different temperatures (800–900 °C range) were collected at various conversion levels and characterized by different techniques (N2 adsor...

The steam gasification of sawdust was carried out in a bench scale plant fitted with a fountain confined conical spouted bed reactor and a nonporous draft tube, and using olivine as primary catalyst. The effect temperature (in the 800–900 °C range) had on product distribution (gas, tar and char) and composition was studied. Not only did temperature...

The performance and stability of different Ni supported catalysts have been studied in a continuous bench scale plant fitted with a conical spouted bed reactor for biomass pyrolysis at 500 °C and a fluidized bed reactor for the in line catalytic steam reforming of pyrolysis volatiles at 600 °C. The metal oxides selected as Ni supports have been Al2...

The activity and stability of a Ni/ZrO2 catalyst have been studied in a continuous bench scale plant, in which biomass has been pyrolysed at 500 °C in a conical spouted bed reactor and the outlet volatile stream has been subjected to catalytic steam reforming at 600 °C in a fluidized bed reactor. The influence of space time has been analyzed, and b...

A study has been carried out of the regenerability of a commercial Ni catalyst used in the steam reforming of the volatiles from biomass pyrolysis (gases and bio-oil), determining the evolution of the reaction indices (conversion, product yields and H2 production) in successive reaction–regeneration cycles. The causes of catalyst deactivation (coke...

H2 is regarded as one of the cleanest future energy carrier that can be generated from renewable sources and will give rise to a reduction of CO2 emissions and environmental problems related to the use of petroleum based feedstock. Thus, the thermochemical routes from biomass for sustainable H2 production compared to other biomass treatment routes...

An original kinetic model has been proposed for the reforming of the volatiles derived from biomass fast pyrolysis over a commercial Ni/Al2O3 catalyst. The pyrolysis-reforming strategy consists of two in-line steps. The pyrolysis step is performed in a conical spouted bed reactor (CSBR) at 500 °C, and the catalytic steam reforming of the volatiles...

The valorization of biomass (pine wood) for hydrogen production has been studied in a two-step process, comprising pyrolysis and subsequent steam reforming of the volatiles produced in the first step. This work focuses on the deactivation of the Ni commercial catalyst used in the second step. Pyrolysis of biomass has been performed in a conical spo...

A study was carried out on the advantages of inserting a fountain confiner in conical spouted beds for biomass steam gasification and the results (gas yield and composition, tar content, carbon conversion efficiency and H2 production) are compared with those obtained under conventional spouting regime. The experiments were carried out in a bench sc...

The effect of reforming conditions (temperature, space time and steam/biomass ratio (S/B)) has been studied in the continuous biomass pyrolysis and in-line catalytic steam reforming process in order to establish suitable conditions for attenuating the deactivation of a commercial Ni catalyst by coke deposition. The experiments have been performed i...

The current review provides an assessment of the main waste plastics valorization routes to produce syngas and H2, thus covering different gasification strategies and other novel alternative processes, such as pyrolysis and in-line catalytic steam reforming. The studies dealing with plastics gasification are in general scarce. However, due to the k...

The influence the support has on the performance of Ni catalysts used in the reforming of biomass fast pyrolysis volatiles has been assessed. Accordingly, five catalysts have been prepared by wet impregnation method, namely Ni/Al2O3, Ni/SiO2, Ni/MgO, Ni/TiO2 and Ni/ZrO2. These catalysts have been characterized by nitrogen adsorption/desorption, X-r...

This study pursues the development and characterization of a fountain enhanced spouting regime. This novel gas solid-contact method combines the advantages of fountain confined conical spouted beds with those of draft tube conical spouted beds. The aim of confining the fountain, and therefore attaining a clearly differentiated regime, is to progres...

The continuous increase in the generation of waste plastics together with the need for developing more sustainable waste management policies have promoted a great research effort dealing with their valorization routes. In this review, the main thermochemical routes are analyzed for the valorization of waste polyolefins to produce chemicals and fuel...

The flash pyrolysis of waste truck-tyres was studied in a conical spouted bed reactor (CSBR) operating in continuous regime. The influence of temperature on product distribution was analysed in the 425–575 °C range. A detailed characterization of the pyrolysis products was carried out in order to assess their most feasible application. Moreover, sp...

Waste truck tyre valorisation by fast pyrolysis has been performed in a conical spouted bed reactor in the 425–575 °C range. The tyre pyrolysis oil (TPO) yield was found to decrease with increasing temperature whilst the yield of gas increased. The effect of temperature on TPO properties has been studied in order to establish the best possible valo...

The continuous pyrolysis-reforming of pine sawdust and high density polyethylene mixtures (25, 50 and 75 wt% HDPE) has been performed in a two-stage reaction system provided with a conical spouted bed reactor (CSBR) and a fluidized bed reactor. The influence HDPE co-feeding has on the conversion, yields and composition of the reforming outlet strea...

Lan honetan poliolefinetatik abiatuta olefinak ekoizteko bi estrategia ezberdin konparatzen dira. Bi kasuetan lehen etapan iturri ohantze konikoko erreaktorean plastikoaren pirolisia egin da. Bigarren etapari dagokionez bi aukera ezberdin aztertu dira pirolisian sorturiko hegazkorren cracking-a egiteko. Alde batetik, ohantze finkoan cracking katali...

Catalytic steam reforming of n-hexane, 1-hexene, tetradecane and toluene over Ni a commercial catalyst has been carried out in a fluidized bed reactor at 700 °C. These compounds have been selected as model compounds of the volatiles formed in the pyrolysis of waste plastics in order to study in detail the performance of the catalyst in the pyrolysi...

Sewage sludge fast pyrolysis bio-oil, produced in a conical spouted bed reactor (CSBR) in the 450-600 °C range, has been characterized. On the one hand, the effect of temperature on bio-oil composition has been analyzed by means of online chromatography and, furthermore, the ultimate analysis and the higher heating value of each liquid have been de...

The steam gasification of pinewood sawdust derived char has been studied in a conical spouted bed reactor. The effect temperature (in the 800–900 °C range), steam partial pressure (from 0.2 to 1) and sawdust particle size (0.3–1, 1–2 and 2–4 mm ranges) have on the char gasification kinetics has been determined. The pyrolysis step was performed in s...

This work focuses the valorization by CO2 activation of the sewage sludge char obtained in the fast pyrolysis in a conical spouted bed reactor at 500 °C. In order to improve the quality of the activated material for use as adsorbent, the sewage sludge char was subjected to two sequential steps of washing by using first a solution of HCl (in order t...

The continuous fast pyrolysis (500 ºC) of pine wood sawdust has been studied in a conical spouted bed reactor (CSBR) followed by in-line steam reforming of the pyrolysis vapours in a fluidized bed reactor on a Ni commercial catalyst. An analysis has been carried out on the effect reforming temperature in the 550-700 ºC range, space time from 2.5 to...

Steam gasification (900 °C) of high density polyethylene (HDPE) in a conical spouted bed reactor (CSBR) followed by steam reforming in a fixed bed reactor (Ni commercial catalyst) has been carried out. The effect reforming temperature in the 600-700 °C range has on product yields and gas composition as well as on the amount and nature of the coke d...

Steam pyrolysis (500 °C) of high density polyethylene (HDPE) in a conical spouted bed reactor followed by a steam reforming (700 °C) in a fixed bed reactor (Ni commercial catalyst) has been carried out for obtaining a syngas stream rich in H2. The product yields obtained in the pyrolysis of HDPE using steam are very similar to the previous ones wit...

The steam gasification of different mixtures of biomass and high density polyethylene (0 wt%, 25%, 50% and 100% of HDPE) has been carried out in continuous mode in a conical spouted bed gasifier, and the results have been compared with those obtained feeding pure biomass and HDPE. The experiments have been carried out at 900 °C and using a steam/(b...

Sewage sludge valorization by flash pyrolysis has been carried out in a conical spouted bed reactor with continuous biomass feed and char removal. The effect of temperature on product yields and composition has been studied in the 450–600 °C range and a maximum liquid yield of 77 wt.% daf (dry and ash free basis) has been obtained at 500 °C. The li...

Abstract Co-pyrolysis of sewage sludge and lignocellulosic biomass has been studied in order to improve the composition of the bio-oil derived from sewage sludge fast pyrolysis as well as progress on the viability of this waste valorization. Fast pyrolysis of a mixture of 50 wt.% sewage sludge and 50 wt.% pinewood sawdust has been carried out in co...

A study has been performed on the production of high quality activated carbon from rice husk char obtained by flash pyrolysis in a conical spouted bed reactor. In order to enhance both the quality of the adsorbents obtained and the economy of the process, the amorphous silica contained in the char has been recovered with Na2CO3. Subsequently, the r...

The fast pyrolysis of a forestry sector waste composed of Eucalyptus globulus wood, bark and leaves has been studied in a continuous bench-scale conical spouted bed reactor plant at 500°C. A high bio-oil yield of 75.4wt.% has been obtained, which is explained by the suitable features of this reactor for biomass fast pyrolysis. Gas and bio-oil compo...

Continuous pyrolysis of polystyrene has been studied in a conical spouted bed reactor with the main aim of enhancing styrene monomer recovery. Thermal degradation in a thermogravimetric analyser was conducted as a preliminary study in order to apply this information in the pyrolysis in the conical spouted bed reactor. The effects of temperature and...

The rice husk char gasification kinetics with carbon dioxide has been studied in a thermogravimetric analyser (TGA) under isothermal and dynamic regimes. The effect of carbon dioxide concentration (50, 75 and 100 % vol. ) and heating rate (5, 10 and 20 ºC min-1) was determined in the dynamic runs and that of temperature in the isothermal ones (750,...

Poplar (Populus nigra) flash pyrolysis has been performed at the IK4-Ikerlan 25 kg h− 1 pilot plant equipped with a conical spouted bed reactor. Gas, bio-oil and char yields and properties have been studied in the 425–525 °C range. This reactor has been proven to be especially suitable for this process as high bio-oil yields have been obtained, wit...

A methodology is proposed based on thermogravimetric analysis, deconvolution of the DTG signal and empirical correlations for characterizing biomass fuels for boilers and combustors. This methodology allows determining accurately and in a short time the main parameters required for industrial operation, as are the higher heating value (HHV), the co...

Hydrogen production from pyrolysis-catalytic steam reforming of pine sawdust has been investigated using two subsequent reactors: i) a conical spouted bed reactor for biomass pyrolysis at 500 °C, and ii) a fluidized bed reactor for catalytic reforming of volatiles from the pyrolysis step. A commercial Ni reforming catalyst has been used for the ref...

The effect of temperature in the catalytic cracking of HDPE over a spent FCC catalyst on the product distribution has been studied using a two-step reaction system. Thermal pyrolysis of HDPE has been carried out in a conical spouted bed reactor and the volatiles formed (mainly waxes) have been fed in-line into a catalytic fixed bed reactor. An incr...

This paper describes preliminary studies carried out to develop a system made up of two interconnected spouted beds for heat integration in highly endothermic processes, such as pyrolysis and gasification. Four different configurations of a dual spouted bed system have been studied depending on the location of the feeding and discharging points in...

Continuous catalytic pyrolysis of high density polyethylene has been carried out for obtaining light olefins in a two step reaction system: (i) thermal pyrolysis in a conical spouted bed at 500 degrees C; (ii) cracking of the volatiles (mainly waxes, C21+) formed in the first step, in a fixed bed reactor using a catalyst based on HZSM-5 zeolite. A...

The overall valorization of rice husk char obtained by flash pyrolysis in a conical spouted bed reactor (CSBR) has been studied in a two-step process. Thus, silica has been recovered in a first step and the remaining carbon material has been subjected to steam activation. The char samples used in this study have been obtained by continuous flash py...

The fast pyrolysis of rice husk has been performed in the 400-600 degrees C range in a continuous pyrolysis bench-scale plant equipped with a conical spouted bed reactor (CSBR) with continuous removal of the char. In this paper it is studied the influence of temperature on product yields and products composition (gas, bio-oil and char) as well as t...

The steam gasification of high density polyethylene in continuous mode has been carried out in a conical spouted bed reactor. The effect of temperature (in the 800–900 °C range) and steam/plastic mass ratio (between 0 and 2) on the distribution of products (gas and tar) and their composition has been studied. In order to reduce tar formation, two c...

Pinewood sawdust has been gasified by using steam as gasifying agent in a conical spouted bed reactor operating in continuous regime. A study has been made of the effect of temperature (in the 800–900 °C range), steam/biomass ratio (between 0 and 2) and sawdust particle size (0.3–1, 1–2 and 2–4 mm ranges) on the distribution of products (gas, tar a...

Olivine and gamma-alumina have been used as primary catalysts for tar elimination in the continuous steam gasification of pine wood sawdust in a bench-scale plant provided with a conical spouted bed reactor. A comparison of the performance of each catalyst with that observed for a bed made up of inert silica sand shows that both catalysts have a si...

The pyrolysis behaviour and kinetics of forest shrub wastes (Cytisus multiflorus, Spartium junceum, Acacia dealbata and Pterospartum tridentatum) from the Portuguese Central Inland Region have been studied in a thermobalance, as a previous step for their valorization by pyrolysis in order to obtain fuels and chemicals within the framework of the Bi...

High density polyethylene (HDPE) cracking has been carried out in a thermal-catalytic two-step unit for the selective production of light olefins. Continuous pyrolysis of HDPE has been conducted in a conical spouted bed reactor at 500 °C, and the volatiles formed (mainly waxes) have been transformed in a downstream fixed bed catalytic reactor at 50...

The continuous catalytic pyrolysis of high density polyethylene (HDPE) has been carried out in a two-step reaction system involving a pyrolysis conical spouted bed reactor followed by a catalytic fixed bed reactor. The good performance of the conical spouted bed reactor has allowed using a low temperature in thermal cracking (500 °C) without deflui...

A two-step process has been used for the selective production of light olefins by the thermal cracking of high-density polyethylene. The plastic has been continuously fed into a conical spouted-bed reactor (CSBR) operating at 500 °C, which yields 93 wt % of waxes (C21+) and C12–C21 hydrocarbons. The volatile product stream has been cracked downstre...

Biomass autothermal flash pyrolysis has been carried out by adding oxygen to the reaction environment in a bench-scale plant provided with a conical spouted bed reactor, at 500 C and using two oxygen concentrations in the inlet gas stream (2.5 and 4.1 vol %, which correspond to equivalence ratios of 15 and 25, respectively). An increase in the oxyg...