Morphological Changes of Different Carbon Materials Upon Very Fast Pyrolysis

The work reports preliminary results on the morphological changes that solid particles of different type and origin experience upon very fast heating in a heated strip reactor at T=1000-1600°C under inert atmosphere. Samples included a Colombian Coal, Naphthalene Pitch, a Paraffinic Wax, a natural lignocellulosic Biomass as well as biomass components, namely Cellulose, Hemicellulose (Xylan) and Lignin. During the heat up phase Biomass, Coal and Lignin particles mainly retain the original morphology and size. Wax, Naphthalene Pitch, Hemicellulose and Cellulose particles cluster or melt. Naphthalene Pitch forms columns of some millimeter height.