Utilization of Biomass Carbon Through Pyrolysis Products

加拿大已经见证了生产生物油和生物炭的各种生物质热解工艺的商业化。这些产品具有极大的潜力，将对加拿大经济的能源和化学品部门产生重大影响。然而，生物油的升级仍然是一个挑战，生物油作为平台化学品的利用还没有得到充分的探索。此外，埃利斯实验室之前的工作已经确定生物炭独特的碳结构是可再生的催化剂。目前的研究计划集中在通过三种方法利用热解产品的新方法。1)生物油乳化及热解木质素利用：利用生物柴油的溶解能力，通过乳化提取生物油成分，形成两层：生物柴油富集相，作为燃料调质；热解木质素富集相，用于进一步开发增值化学品。其目的是扩大生物油的经济价值。2)生物炭固体酸催化剂的开发：通过生物炭的化学和物理活化，获得生物炭的比表面积、孔隙率和结构变化，从而使生物炭成为一种有效的催化剂。活性官能团在生物炭表面发生反应。通过碳形态和官能化获得的基础知识将导致开发一类基于可再生资源的新型催化剂。3)生物质焦油重整催化剂：生物质气化炉通过共处理生物质或碱金属浸渍生物质炭，可支撑潜在的焦油重整催化活性中心。生物炭中的高含氧官能团具有良好的反应活性，适合作为催化剂载体和碳源。拟议的研究将为生物油和生物炭产生新的增值和适销对路的应用，从而减少对化石燃料的依赖，并使加拿大林业部门受益。该项目将与溶液化学和催化性能相关的基础研究与化学反应器工程相结合，从而提供理想的HQP培训。这些创新应用将对加拿大的环境和经济产生积极影响。

Canada has seen commercialization of various biomass pyrolysis processes producing bio-oil and biochar. These products have great potential to bring about a significant impact into the energy and chemicals sectors of the Canadian economy. However, upgrading of bio-oil is still a challenge; and the utilization of bio-oil as platform chemicals has not been fully explored. Furthermore, previous work in the Ellis lab has identified the unique carbon structure of biochar as renewable catalysts. The present research program focuses on novel ways of utilizing pyrolysis products through three approaches. 1) Bio-oil emulsification and pyrolytic lignin utilization: By applying the solvency of biodiesel, bio-oil components are extracted through emulsification producing two layers: the biodiesel rich phase which will be conditioned as fuel; and the pyrolytic lignin rich phase which will be developed for further value-added chemicals. The objective is to extend the economic value of bio-oil. 2) Biochar based solid acid catalyst development: Through chemical and physical activations of biochar, the surface area, porosity and structural changes are attained to tune the biochar as an effective catalyst. Active functional groups are reacted on the biochar surface. The fundamental knowledge gained through carbon morphology and functionalization will lead to developing a novel class of catalysts based on renewable sources. 3) Biochar catalyst for tar reforming: Co-processing biomass or impregnating biochar with alkali metals, biochar can support catalytically active sites potentially suitable for tar reformation in a biomass gasifier. High oxygenated functional groups in biochar results in favourable reactivity suitable as catalyst support and carbon source. The proposed research will generate novel value-added and marketable applications for bio-oil and biochar leading to reduced reliance on fossil fuels and benefits to the Canadian forest sector. The program combines fundamental research related to solution chemistry and catalytic properties with chemical reactor engineering, thus, offering ideal HQP training. These innovative applications will have a positive effect on the Canadian environment and economy.