Catalytic effect of MgCl sub(2) on cotton stalk pyrolysis for chemical production at low temperature

Cotton stalk pyrolysis catalyzed by magnesium chloride was carried out in a fixed bed reactor in a temperature range of 493-553K. The feedstock characteristics, product distribution, pyrolysis oil composition, and solid residue composition were analyzed. The presence of MgCl sub(2) significantly changed the product distribution of the pyrolysis oil and oils with only two targeted chemicals successfully collected for the purpose of chemical production. The effects of catalyst loading and pyrolysis temperature on pyrolysis behaviour for the furfural and acetic acid production were studied systematically. The furfural and acetic acid concentration in pyrolysis oil increased in the presence of magnesium chloride in our investigated temperature range. The furfural and acetic acid contents in water-free pyrolysis oil are about 54% and 28% when the pyrolysis temperature is 553K. The results of solid product analysis showed that 85% of hemicellulose was decomposed, while cellulose and lignin were relatively stable. This study makes it possible to produce chemicals from biomass material through a multi-step pyrolysis process.