Production of Bio-Oil from Pyrolysis of Olive Biomass with/without Catalyst

In this study olive biomass was pyrolysis in a 400 cm3 stainless steel reactor. It was externally heated by an electrical furnace in which the temperature is measured by a thermocouple inserted into the bed. The effect of the catalyst ratio to the biomass (5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 30% and 40%) on the pyrolysis yield was investigated and compared with the uncatalyzed pyrolysis yield product. The bio-oil products yield from the pyrolysis process was found to increase as the catalyst ratio increased. The bio-oil yield from the olive oil-cake, which was 36.1% without the catalyst, reached the maximum value of 39.3% on using activated catalyst at 10% by weight. The gas products yield was found to increase upon using catalyst compared to the non-catalytic pyrolysis. The reduction in the bio-oil yield product was accompanied with a significant reduction in the oxygen content. The pyrolysis oil was examined using chromatographic analysis techniques. The chemical characterization showed that the bio-oil obtained from olive oil cake might be potentially valuable as a fuel and chemical feedstock.