Aqueous phase formation in biomass pyrolysis: Unravelling heating rate effects and introducing sodium sulphate pyrolysis oil refining

Aqueous phase formation is a major drawback of pyrolysis oil derived from biomass. While many researchers have attributed this issue to feedstock properties, our investigation has shown that process parameters, particularly heating rate, also contribute to aqueous phase formation. This article aims to report and highlight this phenomenon. To elaborate on this issue, we introduce a novel separation technique using sodium sulphate, which allows for an effective examination of the aqueous phase post-production. This methodology was found simple and effective, and holds immense potential for future applications in pyrolysis oil refining.