Co-pyrolysis of cypress sawdust and green algae over Ni/ZrO2 catalyst: Syngas yield and carbon emission

In order to promote syngas yield and reduce carbon emission, Ni loaded ZrO₂ (Ni/ZrO₂) catalysts were prepared for the co-pyrolysis of cypress sawdust and green algae in a two stage fixed bed reactor. The syngas yield, syngas component, and carbon emission were investigated. The results showed that Ni/ZrO₂ catalyst could obviously increase the combustible gas component in syngas. H₂ content was increased from 7.5% (single component) and 8.12% (co-pyrolysis) to 16.56% (catalytic pyrolysis). CO content was also increased from 19.62% (single component) and 19.46% (co-pyrolysis) to 25.94% (catalytic pyrolysis). However the catalyst had a little effect on the syngas yield compared with single component pyrolysis and co-pyrolysis. The pyrolysis temperature could make great influence on the carbon emission. The carbon emission reduction was increased from 33.32 to 234.25 g CO₂ and from 105.94 to 369.23 g CO₂, respectively for green algae and cypress sawdust.