Abstract
Several techniques are available for converting biomass into energy and/or valuable chemicals. This study aimed to perform the pyrolysis of sunflower seed husks (SSH) to analyze volatile products. Analytical fast pyrolysis experiments of SSH were carried out under four different conditions: pure SSH in a helium atmosphere (CGHe); pure SSH in a hydrogen atmosphere (CGHi); SSH with ex situ HZSM-5 (proton exchanged Zeolite Socony Mobil-5) zeolite in a helium atmosphere (CG-ZeHe); and SSH with ex situ HZSM-5 zeolite in a hydrogen atmosphere (CG-ZeHi). For each experimental condition, experiments were carried out at 450, 550, and 650 °C, and the volatile products were analyzed in a Py-GC/MS (micropyrolysis coupled to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry) system. The results showed that the zeolitic catalyst presented great effect on the organic functions in the volatiles and the selectivity distribution, especially for the formation of hydrocarbons. This catalyst could promote deoxygenation reactions of volatiles, enabling the generation of improved vapors. In CG-ZeHi, the production of hydrocarbons achieved a maximum of 42% peak area at 550 °C.