Bio-Oil Production and Characterization from Corn Cob and Sunflower Stem Pyrolysis

Using agro-industry residues as an energy source has been essential to replacing traditional fuels and developing resilient and sustainable socio-economic scenarios. The present work uses sunflower stem and corn cob as pyrolysis feedstocks to track the thermochemical synthesis of the renewable energy products bio-oil, biogas, and biochar and their relation to biomass components. Characterization and thermal degradation of biomass samples were provided by determining the elemental and lignocellulosic composition and thermogravimetric analysis. The three main products from pyrolysis conducted at 500 °C (biochar, bio-oil, and biogas) were evaluated for their yield, and the bio-oils were also characterized by Fourier transform infrared elementary analysis and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The obtained bio-oils showed similar profiles, presenting phenol and carboxylic acids as the major classes and the presence of alcohols and aldehydes. Therefore, outcomes allowed for understanding the thermal behavior of biomass components and the impact of different input materials on pyrolysis of product yield and properties.