Jinsheng Gou

Thermogravimetric investigation on the degradation properties and combustion performance of bio-oils

The degradation properties and combustion performance of raw bio-oil, aged bio-oil, and bio-oil from torrefied wood were investigated through thermogravimetric analysis. A three-stage process was observed for the degradation of bio-oils, including devolatilization of the aqueous fraction and light compounds, transition of the heavy faction to solid, and combustion of carbonaceous residues. Pyrolysis kinetics parameters were calculated via the reaction order model and 3D-diffusion model, and combustion indexes were used to qualitatively evaluate the thermal profiles of tested bio-oils for comparison with commercial oils such as fuel oils. It was found that aged bio-oil was more thermally instable and produced more combustion-detrimental carbonaceous solid. Raw bio-oil and bio-oil from torrefied wood had comparable combustion performance to fuel oils. It was considered that bio-oil has a potential to be mixed with or totally replace the fuel oils in boilers.

On the Cure Acceleration of Oil-Phenol-Formaldehyde Resins with Different Catalysts

Oil-phenol-formaldehyde (Oil-PF) resins containing 50 wt% replacement of petroleum phenol with bio-oil were prepared and different catalysts [sodium carbonate (Na2CO3), urea, and magnesium oxide (MgO)] were added in the synthesis process of resins to accelerate the cure. The cure-acceleration effects of catalysts on cure characteristics of oil-PF resins were investigated by using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), gel time, and a plywood panels test. The results indicated that catalysts presented different accelerating effects on the cure of the oil-PF resin. Both Na2CO3 and MgO can accelerate the oil-PF resin cure at a low temperature; however, urea seemed to have no significant effect on the cure of the resin. The application of Na2CO3- and MgO-accelerated oil-PF resins reduced hot pressing time for the manufacture of three-layer plywood panels. Compared with MgO, Na2CO3 had more significant accelerating effect on the cure of the oil-PF resin.