Kinetics of the thermal cracking of model compounds representative of biomass, bio-oils and fossil hydrocarbon feedstocks

The demand for energy in the world is currently around 500 quadrillion Btu and expected to increase to 695 quadrillion BTU in 2030. In response, the oil-based energy system appears inadequate in terms of availability and sustainability. The upgrading of biomass resources to high value chemicals and fuels will contribute to achieving energy sustainability. Considerable research has been performed over the last decades on the modeling of thermal cracking of fossil hydrocarbons. The objective of this work is to determine how these models can be adapted to describe the thermal cracking of biomass materials and bio-oils. Series of experiments were conducted to crack model compounds at different temperatures and residence times using a bubbling fluidized bed. First, tests were carried out using standard fossil hydrocarbons to test the equipment and establish a baseline. Second, model compounds representing biomass and bio-oils were cracked. The modeling schemes proposed for fossil hydrocarbons, based on elementary reactions, were then tested and adapted to describe the cracking of biomass and bio-oil.