Abstract
Arizona chaparral brush and tree species can be converted into high-grade liquid hydrocarbon fuels by indirect liquefaction in which pyrolysis is followed by catalytic liquefaction. Here we have examined various Arizona chaparral species and other woody plants for oil and hydrocarbon content and as biomass feedstocks for pyrolytic conversion to high-grade liquid fuels. Although no tested species contained enough oils or hydrocarbons to be considered useful sources, gasification data show that they are all promising biomass feedstocks for pyrolytic conversion to liquid fuels. Olefin yield from biomass gasification, which is an indicator of liquid hydrocarbon yield, may be influenced by feedstock composition. If some particularly outstanding biomass feedstocks were discovered, then manipulation of the vegetation to favour those species could be a management alternative to prescribed burning or chemical control. Because most of the chaparral species tested produced pyrolysis gas of comparable olefin content, however, harvesting of chaparral without regard to species composition is indicated.
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Davis, E., Kuester, J. & Bagby, M. Biomass conversion to liquid fuels: potential of some Arizona chaparral brush and tree species. Nature 307, 726–728 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1038/307726a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/307726a0
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