BIOMASS PYROLYSIS LAB OVERVIEW Level: Grades 9-16 Estimated Time to Completion: 90 Minutes Prior Knowledge: Background Provided In this lab investigation, students will become familiar with pyrolysis, a method to fractionate biomass into solid, liquid and gaseous components under the influence of heat only. The lab allows the student to create three pyrolysis products consisting of: 1. The solid component, biochar, which may be used as a soil additive, or as activated carbon in absorption processes, or as solid fuel (charcoal). 2. The liquid component, pyrolysis oil, which can be directly used as replacement to #2 fuel oil or upgraded catalytically to be used as a transportation fuel. 3. The gas component, synthesis gas, consisting of hydrogen (H2), carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4), which may be burned directly or catalytically converted to a liquid fuel. Upon completion, students will be able to: • Be able to create a simple pyrolysis unit. • Explain the process of pyrolysis and the resulting fuel forms. • Explain the potential advantages and disadvantages of pyrolysis. • Understand the impact of biomass types or temperature on the pyrolysis process. • Calculate mass yields of pyrolysis products. MATERIALS REQUIRED Meker or Bunsen burner Large glass test tube (thick borosilicate tubes work the best) Lab Balance Stopwatch Various Biomass Types and Forms Rubber Stopper Glass or Metal Tubing Matches or Lighter Type K Thermocouple (optional) NOTES TO INSTRUCTOR • Provide a variety of biomass types for the students to choose from including wood shavings, dried grasses, et cetera. Have the % moisture recorded from the biomass along with the literature value for the biomass. • Size reduced wood works well for this experiment and can be acquired from the size reduction lab. • Dense biomass such as wood chips or biomass pellets work better at transferring heat in the tube. Low density grasses tend to not pyrolyze the entire sample. • Have the students pyrolyze both a relatively dry (<10% moisture) and wet (20 – 30% moisture) sample to determine the double impact of moisture (change in mass content and decreased net energy content). • It is recommended that safety protocols are discussed before the lab and the importance of safety equipment to avoid burns or other fire hazards. Additionally, experiments should be conducted in a well-ventilated area such as a hood. • A student presentation on pyrolysis is available in the “Supporting Materials” folder of the downloadable lab package.