Thermal decomposition of sodium acid salts from black liquor

Abstract

Biofuels production seems the better alternative to fuels consumption realized from non-renewable sources. Black liquor obtained during the pulping is a good resource, because contain a large amount of organic matter. Black liquor can be pre-treated in a partial wet oxidation process to obtain carboxylic salts. These salts can be treated to produce biofuels, such as syngas and methane.

This final project is a research of different ways to obtain carboxylic salts, for example from black liquor treatment. Subsequent conversion process of carboxylic acid salts is focus in thermal decomposition process and the kinetic solid reaction study, from an experimental thermo gravimetric curve.

Results comparison with literature is done to validate the methods used in this study. Kinetic triplet has been further used to predict the residence time needed in a reactor to obtain 40% conversion of the sample at 450°C and 1 bar. Thermal decomposition process has been simulated in Aspen Plus to study the energy requirements and production in the process.