Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Thesis Format

Monograph

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy

Program

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering

Supervisor

Berruti, Franco

Abstract

Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex. Steud. is an invasive perennial grass found in North America, which is rapidly spreading throughout Ontario, damaging the native ecosystem and endangering the wildlife. This infestation has caused a decrease in biodiversity and nutrient availability to the agricultural crops through competition. One of the most effective management practices is spading them, leaving a huge number of dead stalks that need to be disposed of. Pyrolysis was selected as an alternative thermochemical method to convert this feedstock to value-added bioproducts, such as bio-oil and biochar, and to produce valuable renewable chemicals from the pyrolysis oil, such levoglucosan and acetic acid.

This research study objectives are the conversion of Phragmites australis through slow pyrolysis with an existing technology developed in ICFAR in previous years and with a new pyrolysis unit designed and built for the scope of this research, to investigate the impact of different operating conditions on the biochar and bio-oil products. Model compounds made of different ratio of the lignocellulosic components were investigated as well to study differences and similarities.

Fast pyrolysis was carried out in the new bench scale pyrolysis unit to study the effect of different pre-treatments on the removal of the alkali and alkaline earth metals (AAEMs) to improve the levoglucosan yield in the bio-oil product.

Finally, the performance of the biochar and activated biochar produced from Phragmites australis as sorbent materials was investigated for the removal of ibuprofen, this molecule was chosen as a model compound for the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID).

Summary for Lay Audience

Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex. Steud. is an invasive perennial grass found in North America, which is rapidly spreading throughout Ontario, damaging the native ecosystem and endangering the wildlife. This infestation has caused a decrease in biodiversity and nutrient availability to the agricultural crops through competition. One of the most effective management practices is spading them, leaving a huge number of dead stalks that need to be disposed of.

This research focused on the exploitation of Phragmites australis as a low-value feedstock for the conversion into a liquid product, bio-oil, a solid residue, biochar and gases through a process known as pyrolysis.

Bio-oil is comprised of many interesting compounds, such as sugars and acids that if produced in high yields could have attractive applications as building blocks for the production of biodegradable polymers, solvents and pharmaceuticals.

Biochar is the carbon-rich residue of the lignocellulosic biomass left after the pyrolysis reaction. The use of biochar and activated biochar was investigated as sorbent materials for the removal of ibuprofen commonly used as the first line of medication to relieve pain and reduce inflammation. Ibuprofen belongs to a new class of emerging pollutants, which are biologically active and have strong impacts on the environment even in small concentrations.

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