Work

Effects of metal oxide catalysts on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons emissions from large scale biomass pyrolysis

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Biomass, as a renewable resource, offers a potential alternative to fossil fuels. Catalytic pyrolysis, a process that converts biomass into bio-oil, is a promising method for sustainable energy production. This study aimed to quantify the concentrations of 16 priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in bio-oil produced from metal oxide catalytic pyrolysis of sugarcane bagasse. Using a large-scale auger reactor, bagasse was pyrolyzed at temperatures ranging from 400 to 600 °C with various amounts of vanadium pentoxide (V 2 O 5 ) catalyst (0–30% w/w). The resulting bio-oil was analyzed using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) to identify and quantify PAHs. Significant levels of PAHs (2206–6498 mg/L) were detected in the bio-oil. Low molecular weight PAHs, such as naphthalene, acenaphthylene, acenaphthene, fluorene, and phenanthrene, were predominant in all samples. The minimum total PAHs concentration (2206 mg/L) was observed at 400 °C with a 20% V 2 O 5 catalyst loading. These findings suggest that metal oxide catalytic pyrolysis of bagasse, particularly with V 2 O 5 , can effectively control and reduce the formation of PAHs. Further research is needed to optimize the process and minimize PAHs production to commercialize bio-oil as a sustainable fuel.

Source: Scientific Reports

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-95847-5

Authors: Parviz Norouzmehr, Ahmad Reza Rabbani, Hamid Reza Zolfagharpour

Institution: Amirkabir University of Technology

Language: English

Topic: Thermochemical Biomass Conversion Processes

Subfield: Biomedical Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Responsible consumption and production, Affordable and clean energy

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,690