Investigation of Fast Pyrolysis of Camelina Sativa Meal in an Auger Reactor

Fast pyrolysis is one method of creating bio-oil from biomass such as native prairie grasses, corn stover, and other organic commercial and industrial byproducts. In this study, fast pyrolysis of camelina (Camelina sativa) meal feedstock was performed in an auger-type reactor. End products of the processing consisted of bio-char and condensed vapor in the form of bio-oil (ranging from liquid to highly viscous tar-like products). The bio-oil produced in the reactor was collected and analyzed to determine the effects of reactor and condenser temperatures on the properties of the bio-oil produced. Five reactor temperatures and two condenser temperatures were investigated in this study. The rheological properties of the bio-oil samples were analyzed, water content was determined with the Karl Fisher method, energy content was measured with a bomb calorimeter, and acidity was determined using a total acid titration test. The aging characteristics of the bio-oil were also investigated at seven days, fourteen days, and twenty-eight days after the oil was created to determine what effect, if any, time had on the its properties. Preliminary results indicated that products of the camelina meal pyrolysis process were more uniform when compared to that of other feedstocks (e.g. carinata meal, corn stover), yielding more consistent bio-oil characteristics.