Torrefaction and catalytic pyrolysis of olive stone to produce high quality bio-oils

Fast pyrolysis of raw and torrefied olive stone (200 °C) was carried out in either inert or catalytic beds of particles in a steady bubbling fluidised bed reactor. The present study reports the results and discusses the drawbacks and the favourable effects that Olive Stone pre-treatment by torrefaction and/or the adoption of a catalytic bed (i.e., acidic zeolite ZSM-5) exert on bio-liquids yield and composition. Preliminary findings show that mild torrefaction pre-treatment exerts moderate changes in the product distribution as well as in the quality of the produced bio-liquids. Catalytic pyrolysis had a strong influence on the bio-oil yield and its composition, which synergistically combines with torrefaction yielding extensive reduction of oxygenated compounds.