FAST PYROLYSIS OF SAFFLOWER SEED IN THE PRESENCE OF CATALYST

In this study, the safflower seed (Carthamus tinctorius L.) was used as biomass sample for catalytic pyrolysis using commercial catalyst (Criterion-454) in the nitrogen atmosphere. Experimental studies were conducted in a well-swept resistively heated fixed bed reactor with a heating rate of 300 degrees Cmin(-1), a final pyrolysis temperature of 550 degrees C and particle size of 0.6-0.85 mm. In order to establish the effect of catalyst ratio on the pyrolysis yields, experiments were conducted at a range of catalyst ratios between 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, 20% (w/w). The bio-oils were characterized by elemental analysis and some spectroscopic and chromatographic techniques.