Testing a Novel, Mechanically Fluidized Bed Pilot Unit Intended for the Production of Bio-Oil and Biochar from Forest Biomass

Forest biomass is an attractive alternative resource to fossil ones, renewable and without environmental impacts as long as forest residues are considered. Collecting and transforming forestry residues into value-added products is a challenge as they are usually scattered over a large area. To reduce the economic and environmental cost of forestry residues transformation, in-situ energy densification is a powerful solution. To achieve efficient energy densification of forestry residues and transformation for industrial use, a new pyrolysis unit designed by the University of Western Ontario is used to produce low water content pyrolysis oil and high-quality biochar. Bio-oil with 8 %wt water content is produced. Energy density of the bio-oil is compared to other densification methods, showing the interest of pyrolysis to increase the energy density of biomass. High quality and free of sand biochar is also produced. Various properties of the bio-oil and biochar are explored to determine its potential for various industrial applications in the scope of a major biorefinery project in La Tuque, Québec.