Co-production of furfural and acetic acid from corncob using ZnCl₂ through fast pyrolysis in a fluidized bed reactor

Corncob was pyrolyzed using ZnCl₂ in a pyrolysis plant equipped with a fluidized bed reactor to co-produce furfural and acetic acid. The effects of reaction conditions, the ZnCl₂ content and contacting method of ZnCl₂ with corncob on the yields of furfural and acetic acid were investigated. The pyrolysis was performed within the temperature range between 310 and 410°C, and the bio-oil yield were 30-60wt% of the product. The furfural yield increased up to 8.2wt%. The acetic acid yield was maximized with a value of 13.1wt%. A lower feed rate in the presence of ZnCl₂ was advantageous for the production of acetic acid. The fast pyrolysis of a smaller corncob sample mechanically mixed with 20wt% of ZnCl₂ gave rise to a distinct increase in furfural. A high selectivity for furfural and acetic acid in bio-oil would make the pyrolysis of corncob with ZnCl₂ very economically attractive.