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Co-Pyrolysis of Biomass with Bituminous Coal in a Fixed-Bed Reactor for Biofuel and Bioreducing Agents Production

Author

Listed:
  • Lina Kieush

    (K1-MET GmbH, 8700 Leoben, Austria)

  • Andrii Koveria

    (Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Dnipro University of Technology, 49005 Dnipro, Ukraine)

  • Peter Sommersacher

    (BEST—Bioenergy and Sustainable Technologies GmbH, Inffeldgasse 21b, 8010 Graz, Austria)

  • Stefan Retschitzegger

    (BEST—Bioenergy and Sustainable Technologies GmbH, Inffeldgasse 21b, 8010 Graz, Austria
    AEE—Institute for Sustainable Technologies, Feldgasse 19, 8200 Gleisdorf, Austria)

  • Norbert Kienzl

    (BEST—Bioenergy and Sustainable Technologies GmbH, Inffeldgasse 21b, 8010 Graz, Austria)

Abstract

In this paper, the interaction between caking bituminous coal (HC) and two types of biomass, namely sunflower husks (SFHs) and walnut shells (WSs), was studied via lab-scale fixed-bed reactor experiments and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The dynamics of volatile matter composition and weight loss changes were analyzed for the initial biomass types and their 1:1 blends with HC during co-pyrolysis. Derivative thermogravimetry (DTG) revealed that during the co-pyrolysis of HC with biomass, the number of reaction stages increased to four, compared to three during individual pyrolysis, indicating synergistic thermal behavior. The apparent activation energy (E a ) of the blends was higher (62.8 kJ/mol for SFH/HC and 61.8 kJ/mol for WS/HC) than that of the individual HC (55.1 kJ/mol), SFHs (43.8 kJ/mol), and WSs (52.4 kJ/mol), confirming intensified reaction complexity. Co-pyrolysis resulted in higher methane (CH 4 ) production, with the CH 4 :HAc (acetic acid) ratio increasing from 1.2 (WSs) and 1.7 (SFHs) to 1.9 (WS/HC) and 3.3 (SFH/HC). The non-additive behavior of blends is established, indicating the interactions between biomass and HC during co-pyrolysis. These findings support a more resilient and sustainable approach to producing fuels and reducing agents, particularly through the utilization of agricultural residues and waste biomass.

Suggested Citation

  • Lina Kieush & Andrii Koveria & Peter Sommersacher & Stefan Retschitzegger & Norbert Kienzl, 2025. "Co-Pyrolysis of Biomass with Bituminous Coal in a Fixed-Bed Reactor for Biofuel and Bioreducing Agents Production," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-23, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:17:p:7654-:d:1732066
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Radoslaw Slezak & Hilal Unyay & Szymon Szufa & Stanislaw Ledakowicz, 2023. "An Extensive Review and Comparison of Modern Biomass Reactors Torrefaction vs. Biomass Pyrolizers—Part 2," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-25, February.
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