Andrea De Rezende Pinho

Comprehensive two dimensional gas chromatography with fast-quadrupole mass spectrometry detector analysis of polar compounds extracted from the bio-oil from the pyrolysis of sawdust

In this paper it is studied the most polar fractions of bio-oil produced by fast pyrolysis of Lignocel BK40-90 (sawdust from forest timber). The biomass was submitted to the pyrolysis in an existing FCC pilot plant that was adapted for this procedure. The equipment consists of a fluidized bed reactor with nitrogen injection. The unit operates with continuous biomass feeding and continuous solids circulation. The produced bio-oil was submitted to an aqueous alkaline extraction, isolating the acidic compounds that were analyzed by one-dimensional gas chromatography and comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography with quadrupole mass spectrometry detection (qMS). One hundred and thirty compounds (mainly phenols and ketones) were tentatively identified in the extract, some of them by the use of retention indexes. The main differences between chromatographic techniques were the substantial increasing in the peak capacity of GC×GC and the resolution of some co-elutions that occurred in GC/qMS. It is also possible to conclude that this extract is rich in important raw materials for the chemical industry and can be used for this end.

Chapter 3 Exploring FCC flexibility to produce mid-distillates and petrochemicals

Abstract FCC was traditionally designed to convert heavy gas oil range feedstocks to high octane gasoline. Brazilian refineries have relied on FCC as the chief conversion process. However, peculiarities of the local petroleum industry have forced refiners to change the FCC process, first to adapt to increasingly heavier feedstocks derived from national crude oils, and subsequently to change the product slate to comply with market demand, requiring less motor gasoline, more diesel oil and light olefins for petrochemicals. This paper will focus on the second set of process adaptations, including operating variables and choice of refinery processes schemes for low aromatics FCC products within crude oil choice constraints.

Production of lignocellulosic gasoline using fast pyrolysis of biomass and a conventional refining scheme

Abstract This paper shows how some existing refining technologies such as fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) can be modified to process bio-oil, derived from agricultural lignocellulosic wastes such as the sugar cane straw. Tests carried out in demonstration scale (150 kg/h) show the potential of these alternative materials to produce lignocellulosic gasoline or aromatic compounds, suitable to the petrochemical industry.