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Title: Fast Pyrolysis of Opuntia ficus-indica (Prickly Pear) and Grindelia squarrosa (Gumweed)

Abstract

Opuntia ficus-indica (prickly pear) and Grindelia squarrosa (gumweed) are two exceptionally drought tolerant plant species capable of growing in arid and semiarid environments. Additionally, they have unique cell wall structures. Prickly pear contains pectin and high levels of ash (16.1%) that is predominantly Ca and K. Gumweed has high levels of extractives that contain grindelic acid and monoterpenoids. The objective of this paper was to evaluate how these unique cell wall components alter the pyrolysis performance of prickly pear and gumweed. Using a tandem micropyrolyzer with GC-MS/FID/TCD, a detailed account of the product slate is given for products generated between 450 and 650 degrees C. Pyrolysis of prickly pear showed that the high levels of ash increase the amount of organics volatilized and shifted product pools, making it possible to generate up to 7.3% carbonyls vs 3.8% for Pinus taeda (loblolly pine) and 10.5% hydrocarbons vs 1.8% for pine depending on reaction conditions. Pyrolysis of gumweed showed that the extractives were volatilized at low temperatures and led to 17.7% grindelic acid and monoterpenoids derivatives in the condensed vapor phase. In conclusion, at high temperatures, the extractives and other biomass components are converted to aromatics and C5-C10 hydrocarbons, giving a totalmore » yield of 16.6%, and also generate large amounts of C2-C4 hydrocarbons, 11.3%.« less

Authors:
 [1];  [2];  [2];  [2];  [2];  [3];  [3];  [3];  [3];  [1]
  1. Auburn Univ., AL (United States)
  2. National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
  3. Univ. of Nevada, Reno, NV (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Sustainable Transportation Office. Bioenergy Technologies Office
OSTI Identifier:
1462323
Report Number(s):
NREL/JA-5100-72061
Journal ID: ISSN 0887-0624
Grant/Contract Number:  
AC36-08GO28308
Resource Type:
Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Energy and Fuels
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 32; Journal Issue: 3; Journal ID: ISSN 0887-0624
Publisher:
American Chemical Society (ACS)
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
09 BIOMASS FUELS; pyrolysis; prickly pear; gumweed; biomass

Citation Formats

Cross, Phillip, Mukarakate, Calvin, Nimlos, Mark, Carpenter, Daniel, Donohoe, Bryon S., Mayer, Jesse A., Cushman, John C., Neupane, Bishnu, Miller, Glenn C., and Adhikari, Sushil. Fast Pyrolysis of Opuntia ficus-indica (Prickly Pear) and Grindelia squarrosa (Gumweed). United States: N. p., 2018. Web. doi:10.1021/acs.energyfuels.7b03752.
Cross, Phillip, Mukarakate, Calvin, Nimlos, Mark, Carpenter, Daniel, Donohoe, Bryon S., Mayer, Jesse A., Cushman, John C., Neupane, Bishnu, Miller, Glenn C., & Adhikari, Sushil. Fast Pyrolysis of Opuntia ficus-indica (Prickly Pear) and Grindelia squarrosa (Gumweed). United States. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.energyfuels.7b03752
Cross, Phillip, Mukarakate, Calvin, Nimlos, Mark, Carpenter, Daniel, Donohoe, Bryon S., Mayer, Jesse A., Cushman, John C., Neupane, Bishnu, Miller, Glenn C., and Adhikari, Sushil. Thu . "Fast Pyrolysis of Opuntia ficus-indica (Prickly Pear) and Grindelia squarrosa (Gumweed)". United States. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.energyfuels.7b03752. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1462323.
@article{osti_1462323,
title = {Fast Pyrolysis of Opuntia ficus-indica (Prickly Pear) and Grindelia squarrosa (Gumweed)},
author = {Cross, Phillip and Mukarakate, Calvin and Nimlos, Mark and Carpenter, Daniel and Donohoe, Bryon S. and Mayer, Jesse A. and Cushman, John C. and Neupane, Bishnu and Miller, Glenn C. and Adhikari, Sushil},
abstractNote = {Opuntia ficus-indica (prickly pear) and Grindelia squarrosa (gumweed) are two exceptionally drought tolerant plant species capable of growing in arid and semiarid environments. Additionally, they have unique cell wall structures. Prickly pear contains pectin and high levels of ash (16.1%) that is predominantly Ca and K. Gumweed has high levels of extractives that contain grindelic acid and monoterpenoids. The objective of this paper was to evaluate how these unique cell wall components alter the pyrolysis performance of prickly pear and gumweed. Using a tandem micropyrolyzer with GC-MS/FID/TCD, a detailed account of the product slate is given for products generated between 450 and 650 degrees C. Pyrolysis of prickly pear showed that the high levels of ash increase the amount of organics volatilized and shifted product pools, making it possible to generate up to 7.3% carbonyls vs 3.8% for Pinus taeda (loblolly pine) and 10.5% hydrocarbons vs 1.8% for pine depending on reaction conditions. Pyrolysis of gumweed showed that the extractives were volatilized at low temperatures and led to 17.7% grindelic acid and monoterpenoids derivatives in the condensed vapor phase. In conclusion, at high temperatures, the extractives and other biomass components are converted to aromatics and C5-C10 hydrocarbons, giving a total yield of 16.6%, and also generate large amounts of C2-C4 hydrocarbons, 11.3%.},
doi = {10.1021/acs.energyfuels.7b03752},
journal = {Energy and Fuels},
number = 3,
volume = 32,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Feb 08 00:00:00 EST 2018},
month = {Thu Feb 08 00:00:00 EST 2018}
}

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Figures / Tables:

Figure 1 Figure 1: Schematic of the tandem micro reactor illustrating the two reaction chambers, helium and auxiliary gas inlets, selective sampler, liquid N2 cryotrap and MS/FID/TCD detectors.

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