Valorization of Eucalyptus, Giant Reed Arundo, Fiber Sorghum, and Sugarcane Bagasse via Fast Pyrolysis and Subsequent Bio-Oil Gasification

Fast pyrolysis of giant reed Arundo (Arundo donax), fiber sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.Moench), eucalyptus (Eucalyptus spp.), and sugarcane bagasse (Saccharum officinarum) was studied in bench-scale bubbling fluidized bed reactor. Product yields were determined, and detailed physicochemical characterization for produced fast pyrolysis bio-oils (FPBOs) was carried out. The highest organic liquid yield (dry basis) was observed with sugarcane bagasse (59–62 wt %), followed by eucalyptus (49–53 wt %), giant reed Arundo (39 wt %), and fiber sorghum (34–42 wt %). After the pyrolysis experiments, produced FPBOs were gasified in an oxygen-blown autothermal catalytic reforming system for the produced synthesis gas. The gasifier consists of a partial oxidation zone where the FPBO is gasified, and the raw syngas is then reformed over a fixed bed steam-reforming catalyst in the reforming zone. The gas production (∼1.7 Nm3/kg FPBO) and composition (H2 ∼ 50 vol %, CO 20–25 vol %, and CO2 25–30 vol %) were similar for all FPBOs tested. These results show that the combination of fast pyrolysis with subsequent gasification provides a technically feasible and feedstock flexible solution for the production of synthesis gas.