Abstract Bio-based hydrocarbon fuels made from carbonaceous wastes are a renewable and potentially carbon neutral alternative to conventional fossil fuels. Pyrolysis biofuels are limited largely because of a poor overall energy balance along with the fuel’s high viscosity and high oxygen content. This study explores an integrated biorefinery approach to manage Brewer’s Spent Grain (BSG) waste that combines in situ catalytic upgrading of pyrolysis fuel with production of value-added products to improve process economics. By incorporating silver nitrate via a wet impregnation method into BSG prior to pyrolysis, non-condensable gas (particularly hydrogen and ethane) production dramatically increases, while the evolution of methane is largely unchanged. Critically, the peak temperatures at which pyrolysis gases evolve are decreased by the incorporation of silver, suggesting that this process could lower required pyrolysis temperatures. The silver-treated pyrolysis bio-oil showed a considerable increase in furfural, an important precursor in many chemical processes. The silver-impregnated biomass also showed a decrease in 2-methyl-propanal and 2-methyl-butanal yields, and virtually eliminated detectable anthracene and pyrene. In conjunction with the evolved gas results, it is likely that molecular rearrangement and dehydrogenation pathways, as opposed to a complete thermochemical cracking of the bio-oil fraction, are responsible for the catalytic behavior observed. After pyrolysis, the biochar can be oxidized to yield bio-templated, green-synthesized silver micro- and nanomaterials. The integrated biorefinery approach offers a novel path for upgrading pyrolysis biofuels, unifying synthesis of micro- and nanostructured materials and fuel production.

中文翻译：

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硝酸银原位通过生物模板升级啤酒废谷物中的热解生物燃料

摘要 由含碳废物制成的生物基碳氢燃料是传统化石燃料的可再生且潜在的碳中和替代品。热解生物燃料在很大程度上受到限制，因为整体能量平衡不佳以及燃料的高粘度和高氧含量。本研究探索了一种综合生物精炼方法来管理啤酒废谷物 (BSG) 废物，该方法将热解燃料的原位催化升级与增值产品的生产相结合，以提高过程经济性。通过在热解之前通过湿浸渍法将硝酸银加入 BSG，不可冷凝气体（特别是氢气和乙烷）的产量显着增加，而甲烷的释放量基本不变。关键的是，银的掺入降低了热解气体产生的峰值温度，这表明该过程可以降低所需的热解温度。银处理的热解生物油显示出糠醛的显着增加，糠醛是许多化学过程中的重要前体。银浸渍的生物质也显示出 2-甲基-丙醛和 2-甲基-丁醛产率的降低，并且几乎消除了可检测的蒽和芘。与逸出的气体结果相结合，与生物油馏分的完全热化学裂解相反，分子重排和脱氢途径可能是观察到的催化行为的原因。热解后，生物炭可以被氧化以产生生物模板化、绿色合成的银微纳米材料。