Call:
Email: c.gracia@unizar.es
Address: Office 31.080, R&D Building, c/Mariano Esquillor SN 50018 Zaragoza (Spain)
ABOUT ME
Research Interests
Performing my PhD Research on carbon-negative pyrolysis system with autothermal operation to obtain biochar, bio-oil and a pure stream of CO2. This research is within the Ab-FINE Project.
Also, I’m currently working in the development of a gasification pilot plant for obtaining biogas from textile and organic wastes. This research is within the NICER Biofuels Project.
PUBLICATIONS
2008
García-Bacaicoa, Pedro; Mastral, José Francisco; Ceamanos, Jesús; Berrueco, César; Serrano, S
Gasification of biomass/high density polyethylene mixtures in a downdraft gasifier Journal Article
In: Bioresource Technology, vol. 99, no. 13, pp. 5485–5491, 2008, ISSN: 09608524.
@article{Garcia-Bacaicoa2008,
title = {Gasification of biomass/high density polyethylene mixtures in a downdraft gasifier},
author = {Pedro García-Bacaicoa and José Francisco Mastral and Jesús Ceamanos and César Berrueco and S Serrano},
doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2007.11.003},
issn = {09608524},
year = {2008},
date = {2008-09-01},
journal = {Bioresource Technology},
volume = {99},
number = {13},
pages = {5485--5491},
publisher = {Elsevier},
abstract = {In this work, an experimental study of the thermal decomposition of mixtures of wood particles and high density polyethylene in different atmospheres has been carried out in a downdraft gasifier with a nominal processing capacity of 50 kg/h. The main objective was to study the feasibility of the operation of the gasification plant using mixtures and to investigate the characteristics of the gas obtained. In order to do so, experiments with biomass only and with mixtures with up to 15% HDPE have been carried out. The main components of the gas generated are N2 (50%), H2 (14%), CO (9-22%) and CO2 (7-17%) and its relatively high calorific value was adequate for using it in an internal combustion engine generator consisting of a modified diesel engine coupled with a 25 kV A alternator. textcopyright 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
In this work, an experimental study of the thermal decomposition of mixtures of wood particles and high density polyethylene in different atmospheres has been carried out in a downdraft gasifier with a nominal processing capacity of 50 kg/h. The main objective was to study the feasibility of the operation of the gasification plant using mixtures and to investigate the characteristics of the gas obtained. In order to do so, experiments with biomass only and with mixtures with up to 15% HDPE have been carried out. The main components of the gas generated are N2 (50%), H2 (14%), CO (9-22%) and CO2 (7-17%) and its relatively high calorific value was adequate for using it in an internal combustion engine generator consisting of a modified diesel engine coupled with a 25 kV A alternator. textcopyright 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
2007
Mastral, José Francisco; Berrueco, César; Ceamanos, Jesús
Theoretical prediction of product distribution of the pyrolysis of high density polyethylene Journal Article
In: Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis, vol. 80, no. 2, pp. 427–438, 2007, ISSN: 01652370.
@article{Mastral2007b,
title = {Theoretical prediction of product distribution of the pyrolysis of high density polyethylene},
author = {José Francisco Mastral and César Berrueco and Jesús Ceamanos},
doi = {10.1016/j.jaap.2006.07.009},
issn = {01652370},
year = {2007},
date = {2007-10-01},
journal = {Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis},
volume = {80},
number = {2},
pages = {427--438},
publisher = {Elsevier},
abstract = {The main objective of this work is the formulation and development of a model that predicts the product distribution obtained in the pyrolysis of polyethylene. In order to do this a mechanistic model has been developed based on a radical mechanism. This model uses a small number of elementary kinetic steps, including initiation, $beta$-scission, H-abstraction, aromatization and radical combination. The mechanism allows the prediction of the compounds obtained during the pyrolysis. Given the great number of species considered, the simulation of the pyrolysis process requires the solution of complex systems of ordinary differential equations. The results obtained have been validated with experimental results obtained in a free fall installation in which the pyrolysis process has been studied at different temperatures (500-1000 °C) and residence times (0.52-2.07 s). textcopyright 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
The main objective of this work is the formulation and development of a model that predicts the product distribution obtained in the pyrolysis of polyethylene. In order to do this a mechanistic model has been developed based on a radical mechanism. This model uses a small number of elementary kinetic steps, including initiation, $beta$-scission, H-abstraction, aromatization and radical combination. The mechanism allows the prediction of the compounds obtained during the pyrolysis. Given the great number of species considered, the simulation of the pyrolysis process requires the solution of complex systems of ordinary differential equations. The results obtained have been validated with experimental results obtained in a free fall installation in which the pyrolysis process has been studied at different temperatures (500-1000 °C) and residence times (0.52-2.07 s). textcopyright 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Mastral, José Francisco; Berrueco, César; Ceamanos, Jesús
Modelling of the pyrolysis of high density polyethylene. Product distribution in a fluidized bed reactor Journal Article
In: Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis, vol. 79, no. 1-2 SPEC. ISS., pp. 313–322, 2007, ISSN: 01652370.
@article{Mastral2007a,
title = {Modelling of the pyrolysis of high density polyethylene. Product distribution in a fluidized bed reactor},
author = {José Francisco Mastral and César Berrueco and Jesús Ceamanos},
doi = {10.1016/j.jaap.2006.10.018},
issn = {01652370},
year = {2007},
date = {2007-05-01},
journal = {Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis},
volume = {79},
number = {1-2 SPEC. ISS.},
pages = {313--322},
publisher = {Elsevier},
abstract = {The increase in the generation of plastic wastes has triggered the study of different alternatives for their recovery. Pyrolysis appears to be an interesting alternative for the treatment of mixtures of different plastics. The development of a model that simulates polyethylene pyrolysis (one of the most abundant plastics) has been considered interesting in order to analyse the influence of the operation variables on the behaviour of the system. The existing models predict the generation of the main products, paraffins, olefins and diolefins, but not the influence of temperature and residence time on the product distribution. Neither is the formation of aromatics and polyaromatics included. The main objective of this work is the formulation and development of a model that predicts the product distribution obtained in the pyrolysis of polyethylene. In order to do this a mechanistic model has been developed based on a radical mechanism. This model uses a small number of elementary kinetic steps, including initiation, $beta$-scission, H-abstraction, aromatization and radical combination. The results obtained have been validated with experimental results obtained in a fluidized bed reactor in which the pyrolysis process has been studied at different temperatures (640-700 °C) and residence times (0.8-2.6 s). The results show that the trends experimentally observed for the different temperatures and residence times studied are predicted. textcopyright 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
The increase in the generation of plastic wastes has triggered the study of different alternatives for their recovery. Pyrolysis appears to be an interesting alternative for the treatment of mixtures of different plastics. The development of a model that simulates polyethylene pyrolysis (one of the most abundant plastics) has been considered interesting in order to analyse the influence of the operation variables on the behaviour of the system. The existing models predict the generation of the main products, paraffins, olefins and diolefins, but not the influence of temperature and residence time on the product distribution. Neither is the formation of aromatics and polyaromatics included. The main objective of this work is the formulation and development of a model that predicts the product distribution obtained in the pyrolysis of polyethylene. In order to do this a mechanistic model has been developed based on a radical mechanism. This model uses a small number of elementary kinetic steps, including initiation, $beta$-scission, H-abstraction, aromatization and radical combination. The results obtained have been validated with experimental results obtained in a fluidized bed reactor in which the pyrolysis process has been studied at different temperatures (640-700 °C) and residence times (0.8-2.6 s). The results show that the trends experimentally observed for the different temperatures and residence times studied are predicted. textcopyright 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
2006
Mastral, José Francisco; Berrueco, César; Gea, M; Ceamanos, Jesús
Catalytic degradation of high density polyethylene over nanocrystalline HZSM-5 zeolite Journal Article
In: Polymer Degradation and Stability, vol. 91, no. 12, pp. 3330–3338, 2006, ISSN: 01413910.
@article{Mastral2006a,
title = {Catalytic degradation of high density polyethylene over nanocrystalline HZSM-5 zeolite},
author = {José Francisco Mastral and César Berrueco and M Gea and Jesús Ceamanos},
doi = {10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2006.06.009},
issn = {01413910},
year = {2006},
date = {2006-12-01},
journal = {Polymer Degradation and Stability},
volume = {91},
number = {12},
pages = {3330--3338},
publisher = {Elsevier},
abstract = {High density polyethylene (HDPE) was catalytically degraded using a laboratory fluidised bed reactor in order to obtain high yield of gas fractions at mild temperatures, between 350 and 550 °C. The catalyst used was nanocrystalline HZSM-5 zeolite. High yields of butenes (25%) were found in the gas fractions, which were composed mainly of olefins. Waxes were wholly composed of linear and branched paraffins, with components between C10 and C20. The effects of both temperature and polymer to catalyst ratio on the product yield were studied. Gas conversion was dramatically decreased when the operation temperature was low (below 450 °C) or when the polymer to catalyst ratio was greatly increased (9.2). Gas and wax compositions significantly altered over 500 °C, showing that a part of the HDPE was degraded thermally, increasing the olefin concentration in the waxes. The same variation was observed in the experiments carried out at high polymer to catalyst ratios, obtaining a 50% olefinic concentration in the waxes. The differences observed in product distributions can be attributed to both thermal and catalytic degradations. textcopyright 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
High density polyethylene (HDPE) was catalytically degraded using a laboratory fluidised bed reactor in order to obtain high yield of gas fractions at mild temperatures, between 350 and 550 °C. The catalyst used was nanocrystalline HZSM-5 zeolite. High yields of butenes (25%) were found in the gas fractions, which were composed mainly of olefins. Waxes were wholly composed of linear and branched paraffins, with components between C10 and C20. The effects of both temperature and polymer to catalyst ratio on the product yield were studied. Gas conversion was dramatically decreased when the operation temperature was low (below 450 °C) or when the polymer to catalyst ratio was greatly increased (9.2). Gas and wax compositions significantly altered over 500 °C, showing that a part of the HDPE was degraded thermally, increasing the olefin concentration in the waxes. The same variation was observed in the experiments carried out at high polymer to catalyst ratios, obtaining a 50% olefinic concentration in the waxes. The differences observed in product distributions can be attributed to both thermal and catalytic degradations. textcopyright 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Mastral, José Francisco; Berrueco, César; Ceamanos, Jesús
Pyrolysis of high-density polyethylene in free-fall reactors in series Journal Article
In: Energy and Fuels, vol. 20, no. 4, pp. 1365–1371, 2006, ISSN: 08870624.
@article{Mastral2006b,
title = {Pyrolysis of high-density polyethylene in free-fall reactors in series},
author = {José Francisco Mastral and César Berrueco and Jesús Ceamanos},
url = {https://pubs.acs.org/sharingguidelines},
doi = {10.1021/ef060007n},
issn = {08870624},
year = {2006},
date = {2006-07-01},
journal = {Energy and Fuels},
volume = {20},
number = {4},
pages = {1365--1371},
publisher = {American Chemical Society},
abstract = {Polyethylene pyrolysis has been studied analyzing the influence of temperature and residence time on the product distribution. The study was performed in an installation comprising two free-fall reactors in series, enabling the influence for both primary and secondary reactions to be studied separately. This also allows for the temperature to be increased in the second reaction zone, which is a parameter of great influence in the formation of aromatics. The use of reactors of different volume in the second zone also allows for the study of a broader range of residence times. The results obtained in the present work show qualitative trends similar to those obtained in other works of polyethylene pyrolysis in fluidized bed. At low temperatures, the main products obtained are solid waxes, while almost no aromatic compounds appear. The cracking rate increases with the rise in temperature, favoring the reaction of the heaviest fractions. Nevertheless, there are some differences. In general, ethylene, the direct product of the $beta$-scission of hydrocarbon chains, is the main compound in the gaseous fraction. The yields to methane and hydrogen increase as the temperature rises, with these being the final products of the degradation process and in the formation of aromatics. The production of aromatics and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons increases with the temperature and residence time. textcopyright 2006 American Chemical Society.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Polyethylene pyrolysis has been studied analyzing the influence of temperature and residence time on the product distribution. The study was performed in an installation comprising two free-fall reactors in series, enabling the influence for both primary and secondary reactions to be studied separately. This also allows for the temperature to be increased in the second reaction zone, which is a parameter of great influence in the formation of aromatics. The use of reactors of different volume in the second zone also allows for the study of a broader range of residence times. The results obtained in the present work show qualitative trends similar to those obtained in other works of polyethylene pyrolysis in fluidized bed. At low temperatures, the main products obtained are solid waxes, while almost no aromatic compounds appear. The cracking rate increases with the rise in temperature, favoring the reaction of the heaviest fractions. Nevertheless, there are some differences. In general, ethylene, the direct product of the $beta$-scission of hydrocarbon chains, is the main compound in the gaseous fraction. The yields to methane and hydrogen increase as the temperature rises, with these being the final products of the degradation process and in the formation of aromatics. The production of aromatics and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons increases with the temperature and residence time. textcopyright 2006 American Chemical Society.