Catalytic pyrolysis of rice straw using ZSM-5 catalyst to produce furfural compounds

Research on biomass conversion technology to obtain valuable chemical compounds continues to be carried out, one of which is the pyrolysis process. The pyrolysis process is very sensitive to the temperature and pressure of its operation. The reaction mechanism that occurs in a pyrolysis reactor is sometimes uneven so it takes longer to ensure all biomass particles are pyrolyzed. Experiments were carried out at various temperatures of pyrolysis reaction as well as catalytic and non-catalytic conditions to obtain the highest furfural products in the pyrolysis vapor. Using GC-MS analysis, the results show that the role of acid behavior in the ZSM-5 catalyst can increase furfural products and maximum furfural products obtained under pyrolysis condition at 500°C of 1.11 milligrams per gram of raw material for rice straw and increase to 1.48 milligrams per gram under catalytic pyrolysis condition.