Hydrothermal Conversion of Corn Cobs and Crude Glycerol

摘要

The effect of operating parameters including reaction temperature, retention time, and biomass content on bio-oil yield from hydrothermal conversion of corn cobs was investigated. The highest bio-oil yield of 23.9% on the basis of biomass dry weight was obtained at 305 deg C, 20 min retention time, and 10% biomass content. At these conditions, the effect of crude glycerol on bio-oil yield and quality was studied. Bio-oil yield based on the total weight of corn cobs and crude glycerol remained almostconstant at approximately 24% when the ratio of crude glycerol/corn cobs was below 3. When more crude glycerol was added, bio-oil yield dramatically increased to 36.3%. H2 molar percentage in the gas product increased from 11.1% to 27.5% as the crude glycerol/corn cobs ratio increased from 0 to 5. Bio-oil quality in terms of density and viscosity was also enhanced; however, oxygen content in bio-oil increased from 15.5% to 19.9%.