IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/appene/v278y2020ics0306261920312216.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Insight into KOH activation mechanism during biomass pyrolysis: Chemical reactions between O-containing groups and KOH

Author

Listed:
  • Chen, Wei
  • Gong, Meng
  • Li, Kaixu
  • Xia, Mingwei
  • Chen, Zhiqun
  • Xiao, Haoyu
  • Fang, Yang
  • Chen, Yingquan
  • Yang, Haiping
  • Chen, Hanping

Abstract

Understanding the specific chemical activation mechanism during biomass pyrolysis is critical for the more efficient use of biomass and biochar. In this study, the effects of KOH/biomass ratios (1:8 to 1:1) and temperatures (400–800 °C) on biomass pyrolysis were investigated. The KOH chemical activation mechanism was explored by revealing the evolution mechanisms of the gaseous product, bio-oil, biochar, and KOH, based on experiments and quantum calculations. Results showed that KOH can react with active O-containing species in biomass, which was the main reaction at lower ratios (1:8–1:2) or lower temperatures (400–600 °C). Here, KOH was completely transformed to K2CO3, leading to the formation of large amounts of gaseous products and phenols (reaching 75%). The reaction between KOH and more stable carbon fragments, however, was enhanced at higher ratios (>1:2) or higher temperatures (700–800 °C), such that it became the main reaction. With a significant decrease in the phenols and O-species, the hydrocarbons became the dominant species (reaching a content of 57.43%). For biochar, the reactions among KOH, O-containing species, and carbon fragments generated an abundance of vacancies in the biochar. The OH– from KOH rapidly entered these vacancies, forming a large amount of new O-containing groups (i.e., CO, OH, CO, OCO, and COOH groups). This also caused an increase in oxygen content (reaching 23.68 wt%) in biochar. At higher temperatures, the reactions between KOH and biomass were significantly enhanced, along with a sharp increase in the specific surface area (reaching 1351.13 m2/g). O-containing groups further transformed to more stable OH, CO, and COOH groups. Based on the evolution mechanism of pyrolytic products and KOH, the KOH chemical activation mechanism during biomass pyrolysis was revealed, allowing us, for the first time, to propose a possible chemical reaction pathway between KOH and O-containing groups.

Suggested Citation

  • Chen, Wei & Gong, Meng & Li, Kaixu & Xia, Mingwei & Chen, Zhiqun & Xiao, Haoyu & Fang, Yang & Chen, Yingquan & Yang, Haiping & Chen, Hanping, 2020. "Insight into KOH activation mechanism during biomass pyrolysis: Chemical reactions between O-containing groups and KOH," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 278(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:278:y:2020:i:c:s0306261920312216
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2020.115730
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306261920312216
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.apenergy.2020.115730?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Chen, Wei & Fang, Yang & Li, Kaixu & Chen, Zhiqun & Xia, Mingwei & Gong, Meng & Chen, Yingquan & Yang, Haiping & Tu, Xin & Chen, Hanping, 2020. "Bamboo wastes catalytic pyrolysis with N-doped biochar catalyst for phenols products," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 260(C).
    2. Johannes Lehmann, 2007. "A handful of carbon," Nature, Nature, vol. 447(7141), pages 143-144, May.
    3. Chen, Wei & Li, Kaixu & Xia, Mingwei & Yang, Haiping & Chen, Yingquan & Chen, Xu & Che, Qingfeng & Chen, Hanping, 2018. "Catalytic deoxygenation co-pyrolysis of bamboo wastes and microalgae with biochar catalyst," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 157(C), pages 472-482.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Jie Jiang & Yongfa Diao, 2022. "The Effects of Physical-Chemical Evolution of High-Sulfur Petroleum Coke on Hg 0 Removal from Coal-Fired Flue Gas and Exploration of Its Micro-Scale Mechanism," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(12), pages 1-29, June.
    2. Hu, Mian & Ye, Zhiheng & Zhang, Qi & Xue, Qiping & Li, Zhibin & Wang, Junliang & Pan, Zhiyan, 2022. "Towards understanding the chemical reactions between KOH and oxygen-containing groups during KOH-catalyzed pyrolysis of biomass," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 245(C).
    3. Ma, Jiao & Kong, Wenwen & Di, Weiqiang & Zhang, Zhikun & Wang, Zhuozhi & Feng, Shuo & Shen, Boxiong & Mu, Lan, 2022. "Synergistic effect of bulking agents and biodegradation on the pyrolysis of biodried products derived from municipal organic wastes: Product distribution and biochar physicochemical characteristics," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 248(C).
    4. Bryan Díaz & Alicia Sommer-Márquez & Paola E. Ordoñez & Ernesto Bastardo-González & Marvin Ricaurte & Carlos Navas-Cárdenas, 2024. "Synthesis Methods, Properties, and Modifications of Biochar-Based Materials for Wastewater Treatment: A Review," Resources, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-33, January.
    5. Kuo-Hsiung Lin & Jiun-Horng Tsai & Zhi-Wei Chou & Hung-Lung Chiang, 2021. "Product Characteristics of Sludge Pyrolysis and Adsorption Performance of Metals by Char," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-16, November.
    6. Aniza, Ria & Chen, Wei-Hsin & Lin, Yu-Ying & Tran, Khanh-Quang & Chang, Jo-Shu & Lam, Su Shiung & Park, Young-Kwon & Kwon, Eilhann E. & Tabatabaei, Meisam, 2021. "Independent parallel pyrolysis kinetics of extracted proteins and lipids as well as model carbohydrates in microalgae," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 300(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Zhang, Zhikun & Zhu, Zongyuan & Shen, Boxiong & Liu, Lina, 2019. "Insights into biochar and hydrochar production and applications: A review," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 171(C), pages 581-598.
    2. Yang, Haiping & Chen, Zhiqun & Chen, Wei & Chen, Yingquan & Wang, Xianhua & Chen, Hanping, 2020. "Role of porous structure and active O-containing groups of activated biochar catalyst during biomass catalytic pyrolysis," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 210(C).
    3. Lychuk, Taras E. & Hill, Robert L. & Izaurralde, Roberto C. & Momen, Bahram & Thomson, Allison M., 2021. "Evaluation of climate change impacts and effectiveness of adaptation options on nitrate loss, microbial respiration, and soil organic carbon in the Southeastern USA," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 193(C).
    4. Kanbur, Ravi & Bento, Antonio M. & Leard, Benjamin, 2012. "SUPER-ADDITIONALITY: A Neglected Force in Markets for Carbon Offsets," Working Papers 128811, Cornell University, Department of Applied Economics and Management.
    5. Liu, Zihan & Li, Pan & Chang, Chun & Wang, Xianhua & Song, Jiande & Fang, Shuqi & Pang, Shusheng, 2022. "Influence of metal chloride modified biochar on products characteristics from biomass catalytic pyrolysis," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 250(C).
    6. Huang, Yawen & Tao, Bo & Lal, Rattan & Lorenz, Klaus & Jacinthe, Pierre-Andre & Shrestha, Raj K. & Bai, Xiongxiong & Singh, Maninder P. & Lindsey, Laura E. & Ren, Wei, 2023. "A global synthesis of biochar's sustainability in climate-smart agriculture - Evidence from field and laboratory experiments," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 172(C).
    7. Thakkar, Jignesh & Kumar, Amit & Ghatora, Sonia & Canter, Christina, 2016. "Energy balance and greenhouse gas emissions from the production and sequestration of charcoal from agricultural residues," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 558-567.
    8. Qin, Fanzhi & Zhang, Chen & Zeng, Guangming & Huang, Danlian & Tan, Xiaofei & Duan, Abing, 2022. "Lignocellulosic biomass carbonization for biochar production and characterization of biochar reactivity," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 157(C).
    9. Kung, Chih-Chun & McCarl, Bruce A. & Cao, Xiaoyong, 2013. "Economics of pyrolysis-based energy production and biochar utilization: A case study in Taiwan," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 317-323.
    10. Jayanta Layek & Rumi Narzari & Samarendra Hazarika & Anup Das & Krishnappa Rangappa & Shidayaichenbi Devi & Arumugam Balusamy & Saurav Saha & Sandip Mandal & Ramkrushna Gandhiji Idapuganti & Subhash B, 2022. "Prospects of Biochar for Sustainable Agriculture and Carbon Sequestration: An Overview for Eastern Himalayas," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-19, May.
    11. Ahmad Numery Ashfaqul Haque & Md. Kamal Uddin & Muhammad Firdaus Sulaiman & Adibah Mohd Amin & Mahmud Hossain & Syaharudin Zaibon & Mehnaz Mosharrof, 2021. "Assessing the Increase in Soil Moisture Storage Capacity and Nutrient Enhancement of Different Organic Amendments in Paddy Soil," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(1), pages 1-15, January.
    12. Faubert, Patrick & Barnabé, Simon & Bouchard, Sylvie & Côté, Richard & Villeneuve, Claude, 2016. "Pulp and paper mill sludge management practices: What are the challenges to assess the impacts on greenhouse gas emissions?," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 108(C), pages 107-133.
    13. Ahmad Numery Ashfaqul Haque & Md. Kamal Uddin & Muhammad Firdaus Sulaiman & Adibah Mohd Amin & Mahmud Hossain & Zakaria M. Solaiman & Azharuddin Abd Aziz & Mehnaz Mosharrof, 2022. "Combined Use of Biochar with 15 Nitrogen Labelled Urea Increases Rice Yield, N Use Efficiency and Fertilizer N Recovery under Water-Saving Irrigation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-21, June.
    14. Zouhair Elkhlifi & Jerosha Iftikhar & Mohammad Sarraf & Baber Ali & Muhammad Hamzah Saleem & Irshad Ibranshahib & Mozart Daltro Bispo & Lucas Meili & Sezai Ercisli & Ehlinaz Torun Kayabasi & Naser Ale, 2023. "Potential Role of Biochar on Capturing Soil Nutrients, Carbon Sequestration and Managing Environmental Challenges: A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-18, January.
    15. Karolina Barčauskaitė & Olga Anne & Ieva Mockevičienė & Regina Repšienė & Gintaras Šiaudinis & Danutė Karčauskienė, 2023. "Determination of Heavy Metals Immobilization by Chemical Fractions in Contaminated Soil Amended with Biochar," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-15, May.
    16. Yue, Xia & Chen, Dezhen & Luo, Jia & Xin, Qianfan & Huang, Zhen, 2020. "Upgrading of reed pyrolysis oil by using its biochar-based catalytic esterification and the influence of reed sources," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 268(C).
    17. Mathews, John A., 2008. "Carbon-negative biofuels," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(3), pages 940-945, March.
    18. Savvas L. Douvartzides & Nikolaos D. Charisiou & Kyriakos N. Papageridis & Maria A. Goula, 2019. "Green Diesel: Biomass Feedstocks, Production Technologies, Catalytic Research, Fuel Properties and Performance in Compression Ignition Internal Combustion Engines," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-41, February.
    19. Feng, Qunjie & Lin, Yunqin, 2017. "Integrated processes of anaerobic digestion and pyrolysis for higher bioenergy recovery from lignocellulosic biomass: A brief review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 1272-1287.
    20. Ascher, Simon & Watson, Ian & You, Siming, 2022. "Machine learning methods for modelling the gasification and pyrolysis of biomass and waste," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:278:y:2020:i:c:s0306261920312216. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/405891/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.