Slow pyrolysis is a process where organic material is heated gradually in the absence of oxygen to produce charcoal.
This method is different from fast pyrolysis, which focuses on producing liquid products.
The process is known for its low heating rates and long residence times in the reactor.
This results in a high yield of charcoal with minimal liquid and gaseous products.
5 Key Points Explained
1. Process Overview
Slow pyrolysis, also called carbonisation, involves heating biomass slowly.
The heating rate is typically 5 to 7°C per minute.
The process reaches temperatures above 400°C without oxygen.
This is designed to maximize charcoal production, which makes up about 80% of the product by weight.
2. Operational Details
The biomass is heated in a controlled environment where oxygen is absent.
This allows the organic material to decompose thermally instead of combusting.
The heating process breaks down the complex structures of the biomass.
This leads to the formation of charcoal, bio-oil, and gases.
The residence time in the reactor can range from 5 to 30 minutes.
3. Historical Context
Slow pyrolysis was commonly used in industries until the early 1900s.
It was mainly used to produce charcoal, acetic acid, methanol, and ethanol from wood.
This method required a longer duration, often up to 24 hours, to ensure complete pyrolysis and charcoal formation.
4. Product Yield and Characteristics
The primary product of slow pyrolysis is charcoal.
Bio-oil and gases are secondary products.
The charcoal produced is rich in carbon and has applications in various industries.
These include metallurgy and as a soil amendment in agriculture.
The bio-oil and gases produced are minimal compared to the charcoal yield.
5. Comparison with Other Pyrolysis Methods
Unlike slow pyrolysis, fast pyrolysis and flash pyrolysis focus on producing higher yields of bio-oil and gases.
These methods use higher heating rates and shorter residence times.
Fast pyrolysis can complete the process in seconds.
It yields about 60% bio-oil, 20% biochar, and 20% syngas.
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