Effects of metal oxide catalysts on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons emissions from large scale biomass pyrolysis

Abstract Biomass, as a renewable resource, offers a potential alternative to fossil fuels. Catalytic pyrolysis, a process that converts biomass into bio-oil, is a promising method for sustainable energy production. This study aimed to quantify the concentrations of 16 priority polycyclic aromatic hy...

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Main Authors: Parviz Norouzmehr, Ahmad Reza Rabbani, Hamid Reza Zolfagharpour
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-03-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-95847-5
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author Parviz Norouzmehr
Ahmad Reza Rabbani
Hamid Reza Zolfagharpour
author_facet Parviz Norouzmehr
Ahmad Reza Rabbani
Hamid Reza Zolfagharpour
author_sort Parviz Norouzmehr
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Biomass, as a renewable resource, offers a potential alternative to fossil fuels. Catalytic pyrolysis, a process that converts biomass into bio-oil, is a promising method for sustainable energy production. This study aimed to quantify the concentrations of 16 priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in bio-oil produced from metal oxide catalytic pyrolysis of sugarcane bagasse. Using a large-scale auger reactor, bagasse was pyrolyzed at temperatures ranging from 400 to 600 °C with various amounts of vanadium pentoxide (V2O5) catalyst (0–30% w/w). The resulting bio-oil was analyzed using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) to identify and quantify PAHs. Significant levels of PAHs (2206–6498 mg/L) were detected in the bio-oil. Low molecular weight PAHs, such as naphthalene, acenaphthylene, acenaphthene, fluorene, and phenanthrene, were predominant in all samples. The minimum total PAHs concentration (2206 mg/L) was observed at 400 °C with a 20% V2O5 catalyst loading. These findings suggest that metal oxide catalytic pyrolysis of bagasse, particularly with V2O5, can effectively control and reduce the formation of PAHs. Further research is needed to optimize the process and minimize PAHs production to commercialize bio-oil as a sustainable fuel.
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spelling doaj-art-331e169b1ccf40ab8449768dbb003b832025-08-20T03:40:50ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-03-011511810.1038/s41598-025-95847-5Effects of metal oxide catalysts on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons emissions from large scale biomass pyrolysisParviz Norouzmehr0Ahmad Reza Rabbani1Hamid Reza Zolfagharpour2Department of Petroleum Engineering, Amirkabir University of technologyDepartment of Petroleum Engineering, Amirkabir University of technologyFarayand Sabz Pakan Co.Abstract Biomass, as a renewable resource, offers a potential alternative to fossil fuels. Catalytic pyrolysis, a process that converts biomass into bio-oil, is a promising method for sustainable energy production. This study aimed to quantify the concentrations of 16 priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in bio-oil produced from metal oxide catalytic pyrolysis of sugarcane bagasse. Using a large-scale auger reactor, bagasse was pyrolyzed at temperatures ranging from 400 to 600 °C with various amounts of vanadium pentoxide (V2O5) catalyst (0–30% w/w). The resulting bio-oil was analyzed using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) to identify and quantify PAHs. Significant levels of PAHs (2206–6498 mg/L) were detected in the bio-oil. Low molecular weight PAHs, such as naphthalene, acenaphthylene, acenaphthene, fluorene, and phenanthrene, were predominant in all samples. The minimum total PAHs concentration (2206 mg/L) was observed at 400 °C with a 20% V2O5 catalyst loading. These findings suggest that metal oxide catalytic pyrolysis of bagasse, particularly with V2O5, can effectively control and reduce the formation of PAHs. Further research is needed to optimize the process and minimize PAHs production to commercialize bio-oil as a sustainable fuel.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-95847-5Bio oilPAHsPyrolysisMetal oxide catalysts
spellingShingle Parviz Norouzmehr
Ahmad Reza Rabbani
Hamid Reza Zolfagharpour
Effects of metal oxide catalysts on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons emissions from large scale biomass pyrolysis
Scientific Reports
Bio oil
PAHs
Pyrolysis
Metal oxide catalysts
title Effects of metal oxide catalysts on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons emissions from large scale biomass pyrolysis
title_full Effects of metal oxide catalysts on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons emissions from large scale biomass pyrolysis
title_fullStr Effects of metal oxide catalysts on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons emissions from large scale biomass pyrolysis
title_full_unstemmed Effects of metal oxide catalysts on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons emissions from large scale biomass pyrolysis
title_short Effects of metal oxide catalysts on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons emissions from large scale biomass pyrolysis
title_sort effects of metal oxide catalysts on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons emissions from large scale biomass pyrolysis
topic Bio oil
PAHs
Pyrolysis
Metal oxide catalysts
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-95847-5
work_keys_str_mv AT parviznorouzmehr effectsofmetaloxidecatalystsonpolycyclicaromatichydrocarbonsemissionsfromlargescalebiomasspyrolysis
AT ahmadrezarabbani effectsofmetaloxidecatalystsonpolycyclicaromatichydrocarbonsemissionsfromlargescalebiomasspyrolysis
AT hamidrezazolfagharpour effectsofmetaloxidecatalystsonpolycyclicaromatichydrocarbonsemissionsfromlargescalebiomasspyrolysis