The effect of a sweeping gas flow rate on the fast pyrolysis of biomass

Sunflower (Helianthus annus L.)-pressed bagasse pyrolysis experiments were performed in a fixed-bed tubular reactor. The effects of nitrogen flow rate and final pyrolysis temperature on the pyrolysis product yields and chemical compositions have been investigated. The maximum bio-oil yield of 46.62 wt% was obtained in a nitrogen atmosphere with a nitrogen flow rate of 25 cm(3) min(1) and at a pyrolysis temperature of 550degreesC with a heating rate of 300degreesC min(1). The chemical characterization showed that the oil obtained from sunflower-pressed bagasse may be potentially valuable as fuel and chemical feedstocks.