When it comes to breaking down long chain organic materials, two common methods are thermal and catalytic pyrolysis.
4 Key Differences Between Thermal and Catalytic Pyrolysis
1. Presence of a Catalyst
In thermal pyrolysis, the process occurs without the use of a catalyst.
Catalytic pyrolysis, on the other hand, involves the use of a catalyst to facilitate the degradation process.
2. Method of Operation
Catalytic pyrolysis can be performed in two ways: in-situ and ex-situ.
In the in-situ method, the biomass and catalyst are mixed together, and the catalyst plays a crucial role in carrying the heat.
The ex-situ method involves separating the biomass and catalyst beds in a dual-bed reactor, allowing for individual control of both the pyrolyzer and the upgrading reactor's operating conditions.
3. Temperature and Duration
Thermal pyrolysis occurs at lower temperatures, typically between 350-550 degrees Celsius, and takes place over a longer period of time, usually several hours.
Catalytic pyrolysis, especially the ex-situ method, is highly selective to desirable aromatics but is more complex and leads to a higher capital cost.
4. Capital Investment and Control
The in-situ method of catalytic pyrolysis requires a lower capital investment as it only requires a single reactor.
However, catalyst deactivation from coke formation can occur more quickly, and there may be poor heat transfer due to poor contact between the biomass and catalyst bed.
Thermal pyrolysis is a simpler process but may have limitations in terms of selectivity and control.
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