Flash pyrolysis of Silopi asphaltite in a free-fall reactor under vacuum

Abstract

Flash pyrolysis experiments on asphaltite samples were performed in a free-fall reactor under vacuum to determine the effects of pyrolysis temperature, feed rate and particle size. Maximum liquid yield of 13 wt.% was obtained in free-fall reactor under vacuum when the pyrolysis temperature was 700 degrees C, feed rate was 0.4 g min(-1) and particle sizes were between 0.075 and 0.250 mm. The liquid products obtained at various pyrolysis conditions were analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometer (GC/MS) and liquid products were classified as following: C5-C10, C11-C 15, C16-C20 and C20+. The amount of saturated hydrocarbons decreased while the amount of unsaturated hydrocarbons increased with increase of temperature. While percent of C5-C10 unsaturated hydrocarbons continuously increased with increase of temperature, the percent of C11-C 15 unsaturated hydrocarbons increased up to 750 degrees C and then started to diminish. Functional group analysis of solid residue was carried out using Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FT-IR). The proximate analysis of solid residue indicated that percent of fixed carbon and ash increased with temperature. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.