Influence of pyrolysis temperature and heating rate on the production of bio-oil and char from safflower seed by pyrolysis, using a well-swept fixed-bed reactor

Abstract In this study, fast pyrolysis of safflower seed ( Carthamus tinctorius L.) was investigated with the aim to study the product distribution and their chemical compositions and to identify optimum process conditions for maximizing the bio-oil yield. Experiments were performed in a well-swept resistively heated fixed-bed reactor under nitrogen atmosphere. The maximum oil yield of 54% was obtained at the final pyrolysis temperature of 600°C, sweeping gas flow rate of 100 cm 3 min − 1 and heating rate of 300 °C min − 1 in a fixed-bed reactor. The elemental analysis and calorific value of the bio-oil were determined and compared with diesel fuel and then the chemical composition of the bio-oil was investigated using chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques (IR, GC/MS, simulated distillation). The char was characterized by elemental, BET surface area and SEM analyses.