Bio-Oil Production from Pyrolysis of Black Locust (Robinia Pseudoacacia) Wood

Abstract

The aim of this study is to obtain bio-oil from pyrolysis of black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) wood. Liquid, solid and gaseous products were obtained from black locust wood pyrolysis. The pyrolysis of biomass is a thermal treatment that results in the production of charcoal, liquid, and gaseous products. The liquid and gas products can be used in engine and turbine for power generation. Pyrolysis liquid is referred to in the literature by terms such as pyrolysis oil, bio-oil, bio-crude oil, bio-fuel oil, wood liquid, wood oil, liquid smoke, wood distillates, pyroligneous tar, pyroligneous acid. Bio-oil is not a product of thermodynamic equilibrium during pyrolysis but is produced with short reactor times and rapid cooling or quenching from the pyrolysis temperatures. The yields of bio-oil versus time by pyrolysis of black locust wood samples were very sharply increased from 5 to 20 minutes from approximately 5.6 to 35.3%, respectively. Then it was approached to the plateau value after 20 minutes. The influence of residence time on the yield of products is small, with a slight decrease in oil yield and increase in char yield. The yields of charcoal were 81.4 and 22.3% for 5 and 25 minutes, respectively.