Effects of AAEMs on formation of heavy components in bio-oil during pyrolysis at various temperatures and heating rates

Abstract Heavy components (molecular weight > 200 Da) in bio-oil affect the thermal conversion of bio-oil significantly. The inherent alkali/alkaline earth metal species (AAEMs) in biomass affect the formation of heavy components in bio-oil due to its catalytic effects. In order to investigate the effects of AAEMs on the formation of heavy components in bio-oil during biomass pyrolysis, the heavy components in bio-oil were characterized with the Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass (FT-ICR MS) spectrometer and the ultraviolet fluorescence (UV-F) spectroscopy. The roles of K and Ca were also investigated. The results showed that AAEMs promoted the breakage of active oxygen-containing functional groups in heavy phenolics and inhibited their formation during pyrolysis, as well as the formation of heavy carbohydrates. The total content of heavy components decreased due to the catalytic effects of AAEMs. The catalytic effects of K on the decomposition of large molecular weight compounds (> 500 Da) in heavy components were stronger than those of Ca. K increased the content of single ring aromatic components in bio-oil for 1.5 times, while Ca decreased the content of the 2–3 rings aromatic components in bio-oil for more than 50%, compared to the bio-oil generated from the pyrolysis without AAEMs.