Pyrolysis of tobacco waste: a comparative study between Py-GC/MS and fixed-bed reactors

• Published in: Journal of analytical and applied pyrolysis 2022-10, Vol.167, p.105702, Article 105702
• Main Authors: Muzyka, Roksana, Chrubasik, Maciej, Dudziak, Mariusz, Ouadi, Miloud, Sajdak, Marcin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Comparison analysis; Fixed-bed reactors; Py-GC/MS; Tobacco waste
• ISSN: 0165-2370; 1873-250X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jaap.2022.105702

Pyrolysis, which converts waste into high-value products, is an appropriate and safe waste disposal solution for use in the tobacco industry. The properties of such high-value products were examined in the temperature range of 300–700 °C in order to establish the optimum pyrolytic operating settings for tobacco waste using a Py-GC/MS and a fixed-bed reactor. At 700 °C, the lower heat value of gas was 14 MJ/m3. When the three waste products (char, oil, and gas) are balanced, the optimum operating temperature for biomass pyrolysis of tobacco waste is found to be 600 °C. With rising temperatures, nitrogen (N) compounds, which are mostly detected below 500 °C, escape from tobacco waste. Nicotine, pyridines, and N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone are the predominant compounds found in the organic portion of the oil (up to a concentration of 1.2% m/m). Furthermore, the study found that the Py-GC-MS did not detect benzene products, unlike fixed bed reactor pyrolysis. Alkynes decreased from 15.4% to 3.9% as the temperature increased from 300° to 700°C. Alkenes (1.3-pentadien) had the most peak area. Due to the prolonged response time, no alkynes were found. Furan is generated from hemicellulose and cellulose breakdown and diminishes over 600 °C. Furan yield decreased from 5.5% to 2.2% as temperature increased from 400° to 700°C. The presence of phenols at 600 °C may be due to char or volatiles decomposing further. This results of this research are useful throughout the tobacco industry for dealing with cigarette waste. •The optimum temperature for biomass pyrolysis of tobacco waste is found to be 600 °C.•Nicotine, pyridines, and N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone are major compounds in the bio-oil.•Differences between Py-GC-MS and the pyrolysis fixed-bed reactor were evaluated.