Characterization of Selected Pyrolysis Products of Diseased Orange Wood

Orange trees in Brazil are often burned as a means of eradication when they become infected with Huanglongbing disease. Rather than destroying them, which is a low-value proposition, one potential option is to utilize the biomass through pyrolysis. In this preliminary work, orange trees (Citrus sinensis) otherwise selected for purging, were sampled and pyrolyzed at 500 °C, and the charcoal and bio-oil were evaluated for potential value-added use. The results showed that the pyrolysis process resulted in 26.3% charcoal, 57.6% bio-oil, and 16.0% non-condensable gases. Qualitative analysis of the bio-oil by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry found 178 chemical compounds; however, only 25% of those compounds could be reliably identified. Potential applications of the compounds identified in the bio-oil were determined by examining the published literature, and it was found that at least 73% of them showed promise. Finally, initial studies on the immediate analysis of the pyrolysis charcoal showed that it potentially meets the standards set forth for Brazilian domestic use.