Optimization of Tobacco-Stem Bio-Oil Production by Catalytic Pyrolysis Using Activated Natural Zeolite and Response Surface Methodology

Cucuk Evi Lusiani; Farah Shifa Fayyaza; Tiara Salsabilla; Ade Sonya Suryandari; Rosita Dwi Chrisnandari; Heny Dewajani; Mochammad Agung Indra Iswara

doi:10.33795/jtkl.v10i2.11240

Authors

Cucuk Evi Lusiani Department of Chemical Engineering, Politeknik Negeri Malang, Jl. Soekarno Hatta No. 9, Malang 65141, Indonesia
Farah Shifa Fayyaza Department of Chemical Engineering, Politeknik Negeri Malang, Jl. Soekarno Hatta No. 9, Malang 65141, Indonesia
Tiara Salsabilla Department of Chemical Engineering, Politeknik Negeri Malang, Jl. Soekarno Hatta No. 9, Malang 65141, Indonesia
Ade Sonya Suryandari Department of Chemical Engineering, Politeknik Negeri Malang, Jl. Soekarno Hatta No. 9, Malang 65141, Indonesia
Rosita Dwi Chrisnandari Department of Chemical Engineering, Politeknik Negeri Malang, Jl. Soekarno Hatta No. 9, Malang 65141, Indonesia
Heny Dewajani Department of Chemical Engineering, Politeknik Negeri Malang, Jl. Soekarno Hatta No. 9, Malang 65141, Indonesia
Mochammad Agung Indra Iswara Department of Chemical Engineering, Politeknik Negeri Malang, Jl. Soekarno Hatta No. 9, Malang 65141, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33795/jtkl.v10i2.11240

Keywords:

bio-oil, catalytic pyrolysis, natural zeolite, response surface methodology, tobacco stem

Abstract

Tobacco stem is a lignocellulosic agricultural residue with potential for bio-oil production through catalytic pyrolysis. This study investigated the effects of pyrolysis temperature, reaction time, and acid-activated natural zeolite loading using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) with a Box–Behnken Design. Bio-oil yield, density, viscosity, and pH were evaluated, supported by FTIR and GC-MS characterization. The distilled bio-oil yield ranged from 15.47 to 68.79 wt%, with the highest yield obtained at 550°C, 3 h, and 10 wt% zeolite. The RSM model for bio-oil yield was statistically significant (p=0.0474), with zeolite loading being the most influential factor (p=0.0121). In contrast, the models for density, viscosity, and pH were not statistically significant. Numerical optimization identified a model-predicted candidate condition of 527.70°C, 2.55 h, and 12.36 wt% zeolite, with a predicted distilled bio-oil yield of 69.08 wt%. Experimental validation is required to assess the predictive accuracy of this condition. The results indicate that activated natural-zeolite loading was the most influential statistically significant factor affecting bio-oil yield within the investigated domain.

References

K.N. Yogalakshmi, T.P. Devi, P. Sivashanmugam, S. Kavitha, R.Y. Kannah, S. Varjani, S. AdishKumar, G. Kumar, J.R. Banu, Lignocellulosic biomass-based pyrolysis: A comprehensive review, Chemosphere 286 (2022) 131824.

W. Wang, Y. Gu, C. Zhou, C. Hu, Current challenges and perspectives for the catalytic pyrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass to high-value products, Catalysts 12 (2022) 1524.

Y. Wang, A. Akbarzadeh, L. Chong, J. Du, N. Tahir, M.K. Awasthi, Catalytic pyrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass for bio-oil production: A review, Chemosphere 297 (2022) 134181.

N. Khuenkaeo, S. Phromphithak, T. Onsree, S.R. Naqvi, N. Tippayawong, Production and characterization of bio-oils from fast pyrolysis of tobacco processing wastes in an ablative reactor under vacuum, PLoS One 16 (2021) e0254485.

C. Ma, F. Zhang, H. Liu, J. Hu, S. Yang, H. Wang, Comprehensive investigation on the slow pyrolysis product characteristics of waste tobacco stem: Pyrolysis reaction mechanism and conversion mechanism of N, Fuel 350 (2023) 128902.

J. Bai, G. Huang, C. Qiu, X. Shang, Z. Sun, J. Hu, C. Chang, Preparation of low-nitrogen bio-oil from co-pyrolysis of waste tobacco stem and corn stalk: Product characteristics and denitrogenation mechanism, Energy 301 (2024) 131653.

X. Tang, X. Li, Q.F. He, Y. Peng, B. Peng, Y. Zhang, W. Luo, Z. Zhou, In-situ and ex-situ selective catalysis of biochar-based catalysts for the production of high-quality bio-oil and H2-rich gas from tobacco stem, J. Environ. Chem. Eng. 12 (2024) 114268.

X. Song, S. Liu, T. Li, H. Wang, F. Huang, X. Bai, D. Bi, Enriching pyrrole components in bio-oil by nitrogen-rich pyrolysis of tobacco stem employing ZIF-67/ZSM-5 dual-catalyst, J. Anal. Appl. Pyrolysis 191 (2025) 107212.

M. Peng, J. Du, J. Hu, Z. Ma, Q. Yang, H. Wang, Investigation of reaction characteristics and kinetics of tobacco stalk catalytic pyrolysis using hierarchical HZSM-5, J. Environ. Chem. Eng. 13 (2025) 115888.

J. Bai, L. Yang, Y. Wang, G. Huang, C. Qiu, Z. Sun, H. Wu, C. Chang, Catalytic co-pyrolysis of waste tobacco stem and corn stalk to produce bio-oil with low nitrogen/oxygen, Fuel 395 (2025) 135234.

J. Liang, G. Shan, Y. Sun, Catalytic fast pyrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass: Critical role of zeolite catalysts, Renew. Sustain. Energy Rev. 139 (2021) 110707.

R.K. Mishra, S.M. Chistie, S.U. Naika, K. Mohanty, Catalytic pyrolysis of biomass over zeolites for bio-oil and chemical production: A review on their structure, porosity and acidity co-relation, Bioresour. Technol. 366 (2022) 128189.

S.R. Khan, M. Zeeshan, A. Ahmed, S. Saeed, Comparison of synthetic and low-cost natural zeolite for bio-oil focused pyrolysis of raw and pretreated biomass, J. Clean. Prod. 313 (2021) 127760.

K. Duanguppama, N. Pannucharoenwong, S. Echaroj, L.K.H. Pham, C. Samart, P. Rattanadecho, Integrated catalytic pyrolysis and catalytic upgrading of Leucaena leucocephala over natural catalysts, J. Energy Inst. 106 (2023) 101155.

J.A. Oyebanji, P.O. Okekunle, O.E. Itabiyi, Box Behnken design application for optimization of bio-oil yield from catalytic pyrolysis of agro-residue, Fuel Commun. 16 (2023) 100091.

A. Amrullah, O. Farobie, H. Irawansyah, M. Lutfi, L.N. Haty, Synergistic enhancement of bio-oil production, quality, and optimization from co-pyrolysis purun tikus (Eleocharis dulcis) and plastic waste using response surface methodology, Process Saf. Environ. Prot. 187 (2024) 471–482.

S. Clemente-Castro, A. Palma, M. Ruiz-Montoya, I. Giráldez, M.J. Díaz, Optimizing pyrolysis parameters and product analysis of a fluidized bed pilot plant for Leucaena leucocephala biomass, Environ. Sci. Eur. 35 (2023) 88.

L. Zhu, J. Xu, Y. Dai, J. Jiang, S. Liao, G. Zhou, S. Wang, Mechanism study of tobacco pyrolysis based on the analysis of characteristic products and in-situ identification of functional groups evolution on pyrolytic char, J. Anal. Appl. Pyrolysis 167 (2022) 105681.

P. Yan, I.N. Azreena, H. Peng, H. Rabiee, M. Ahmed, Y. Weng, Z. Zhu, E.M. Kennedy, M. Stockenhuber, Catalytic hydropyrolysis of biomass using natural zeolite-based catalysts, Chem. Eng. J. 476 (2023) 146630.

S.M. Rowland, R. Martinez, C.J. Wrasman, K. Iisa, M.R. Nimlos, M.B. Griffin, Thermal reactivity of bio-oil produced from catalytic fast pyrolysis of biomass, Energy Fuels 38 (2024) 19626–19638.

A.C.M. Vilas-Boas, L.A.C. Tarelho, J.M.O. Moura, H.G.M.F. Gomes, C.C. Marques, D.T. Pio, M.I.S. Nunes, A.J.D. Silvestre, Methodologies for bio-oil characterization from biomass pyrolysis: A review focused on GC-MS, J. Anal. Appl. Pyrolysis 185 (2025) 106850.

W. Luo, Z. Liu, Q. Liu, Y. Yan, G. Xie, Z. Zou, X. Chen, Two-stage pyrolysis for effective tobacco stem utilization and tar reduction, J. Anal. Appl. Pyrolysis 179 (2024) 106468.