Co-pyrolysis of Jatropha curcas seed cake and bituminous coal: Product pattern analysis

Abstract The product distribution pattern of the co-pyrolysis process involving lignocellulosic biomass and bituminous coal has a remarkable influence on the understanding of co-thermochemical process. This study is aimed at understanding the molecular level information about the pyrolysis oils obtained after co-pyrolysis. A 1:1 blend of Jatropha curcas seed cake (JCC) and bituminous coal (BC) was selected as raw material and pyrolyzed under an inert environment in a fixed bed reactor. The resulted pyrolysis oil was separated into aqueous and organic phases and subjected to liquid–liquid extraction with optimum solvents. The analysis revealed that organic and aqueous phases differed significantly owing to the presence of varied functional groups. The results were also compared with pyrolytic oils obtained from JCC and BC used separately. The organic phases revealed 47.6% and 25.1% hydrocarbons in BC-derived and JCC + BC-derived pyrolysis oils respectively. In the same order, phenolics were present in comparable amounts in organic phases of both these liquids (24.2% and 29.5% respectively). In contrast, the aqueous phases from BC-derived and JCC + BC-derived pyrolysis oils contained phenolics at 81.8% and 27.7% respectively. Aldehydes and ketones were prominently present in JCC + BC-derived pyrolysis oil.