Utilization of Biomass Carbon Through Pyrolysis Products

加拿大已经实现了生产生物油和生物炭的各种生物质热解工艺的商业化。这些产品具有巨大的潜力，对加拿大经济的能源和化学部门产生重大影响。然而，生物油的升级换代仍然是一个挑战；生物油作为平台化学品的利用尚未得到充分的探索。此外，埃利斯实验室之前的工作已经确定了生物炭作为可再生催化剂的独特碳结构。目前的研究计划侧重于通过三种方法利用热解产物的新方法。1)生物油乳化和热解木质素利用：利用生物柴油的溶解性，通过乳化提取生物油组分，产生两层：生物柴油富相作为燃料；而富木质素热解相将进一步发展为高附加值化学品。目的是扩大生物油的经济价值。2)基于生物炭的固体酸催化剂开发：通过对生物炭的化学和物理活化，获得表面积、孔隙度和结构的变化，从而调整生物炭作为有效催化剂。活性官能团在生物炭表面反应。通过碳形态和功能化获得的基本知识将导致开发一类基于可再生资源的新型催化剂。3)用于焦油重整的生物炭催化剂：共处理生物质或用碱金属浸渍生物炭，生物炭可以支持潜在适合于生物质气化炉中焦油重整的催化活性位点。生物炭中的高氧官能团具有良好的反应性，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带来新的增值和市场应用，从而减少对化石燃料的依赖，并使加拿大林业部门受益。该项目将溶液化学和催化性能的基础研究与化学反应器工程相结合，提供了理想的HQP培训。这些创新的应用将对加拿大的环境和经济产生积极的影响。

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.