Characteristics of the pyrolytic products from the fast pyrolysis of palm kernel cake in a bench-scale fluidized bed reactor

Palm kernel cake (PKC) was pyrolyzed in a bench-scale pyrolysis plant equipped with a bubbling fluidized bed reactor, char separation system, and bio-oil recovery system under various reaction temperatures. Experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of reaction temperature and observe the behavior of nitrogen in pyrolysis products. The maximum yield of bio-oil from PKC was approximately 63 wt.% at a reaction temperature of 401 degrees C. The main chemical compounds of bio-oils obtained from PKC were acetic acid, levoglucosan, nitrogen-containing compounds, and fatty acids such as dodecanoic acid, octanoic acid, tetradecanoic acid, and oleic acid. At reaction temperatures above 401 degrees C, the nitrogen content of bio-oils does not depend on reaction temperature. It is suggested that the resulting bio-oil requires additional treatment for use as a clean fuel.