Call: +34 876 555 482
Email: isabelfo@unizar.es
Address: Office 31.070; I+D+I Building; C/ Mariano Esquillor s/n 50018, Zaragoza
ABOUT ME
Research Interests
- Pyrolysis and gasification of lignocellulosic biomass and waste, mainly biological residues, i. e. sewage sludge, meat and bone meal or livestock manure.
- Bio-oil characterization and refining.
- High-value added products from bio-oil: isolation and characterization.
- Char adsorbents for hydrogen sulfide and ammonium.
- Ammonia sustainable production.
PUBLICATIONS
2012
Fonts, Isabel; Gea, Gloria; Azuara, Manuel; Ábrego, Javier; Arauzo, Jesús
Sewage sludge pyrolysis for liquid production: A review Journal Article
In: Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, vol. 16, no. 5, pp. 2781–2805, 2012, ISSN: 13640321.
@article{Fonts2012,
title = {Sewage sludge pyrolysis for liquid production: A review},
author = {Isabel Fonts and Gloria Gea and Manuel Azuara and Javier Ábrego and Jesús Arauzo},
url = {http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364032112001657},
issn = {13640321},
year = {2012},
date = {2012-06-01},
journal = {Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews},
volume = {16},
number = {5},
pages = {2781--2805},
abstract = {The high output of sewage sludge, which is increasing during recent years, and the limitations of the existing means of disposing sewage sludge highlight the need to find alternative routes to manage this waste. Biomass and residues like sewage sludge are the only renewable energy sources that can provide C and H, thus it is interesting to process them by means of treatments that enable to obtain chemically valuable products like fuels and not only heat and power; pyrolysis can be one of these treatments. The main objective of this review is to provide an account of the state of the art of sewage sludge pyrolysis for liquid production, which is under study during recent years. This process yields around 50wt% (daf) of liquid. Typically, this liquid is heterogeneous and it usually separates into two or three phases. Some of these organic phases have very high gross heating values, even similar to those of petroleum-based fuels. The only industrial sewage sludge pyrolysis plant operated to date is currently closed due to some technical challenges and problems of economic viability.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
The high output of sewage sludge, which is increasing during recent years, and the limitations of the existing means of disposing sewage sludge highlight the need to find alternative routes to manage this waste. Biomass and residues like sewage sludge are the only renewable energy sources that can provide C and H, thus it is interesting to process them by means of treatments that enable to obtain chemically valuable products like fuels and not only heat and power; pyrolysis can be one of these treatments. The main objective of this review is to provide an account of the state of the art of sewage sludge pyrolysis for liquid production, which is under study during recent years. This process yields around 50wt% (daf) of liquid. Typically, this liquid is heterogeneous and it usually separates into two or three phases. Some of these organic phases have very high gross heating values, even similar to those of petroleum-based fuels. The only industrial sewage sludge pyrolysis plant operated to date is currently closed due to some technical challenges and problems of economic viability.
2011
Cascarosa, Esther; Fonts, Isabel; Mesa, J M; Sánchez, José Luis; Arauzo, Jesús
In: Fuel Processing Technology, vol. 92, no. 10, pp. 1954–1962, 2011, ISSN: 03783820.
@article{Cascarosa2011b,
title = {Characterization of the liquid and solid products obtained from the oxidative pyrolysis of meat and bone meal in a pilot-scale fluidised bed plant},
author = {Esther Cascarosa and Isabel Fonts and J M Mesa and José Luis Sánchez and Jesús Arauzo},
doi = {10.1016/j.fuproc.2011.05.015},
issn = {03783820},
year = {2011},
date = {2011-10-01},
journal = {Fuel Processing Technology},
volume = {92},
number = {10},
pages = {1954--1962},
publisher = {Elsevier},
abstract = {Pyrolysis of meat and bone meal material has been studied in an auto-thermal pilot scale unit with a fluidised bed reactor based on Bioware Technology. The heating value of the bio-oil samples is around 33-36 MJ/kg, whilst the nitrogen content is between 7.3 wt.% and 9.0 wt.%. Liquid fractionation with solvents of the bio-oil has been carried out. Chemical analyses of the fractions have shown that the main components in the bio-oil samples are alkanes, alkenes, oxygenated components (as alcohols) and nitrogen compounds (as nitriles) which are identified in the water insoluble fraction. Knowing the chemical composition of the bio-oils is important for assessing possible chemical and pharmaceutical applications of these bio-oils. The char samples have a notable ash content (63 wt.% to 77 wt.%) and its high Ca content could make it suitable for use as a catalyst in gasification processes. textcopyright 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Pyrolysis of meat and bone meal material has been studied in an auto-thermal pilot scale unit with a fluidised bed reactor based on Bioware Technology. The heating value of the bio-oil samples is around 33-36 MJ/kg, whilst the nitrogen content is between 7.3 wt.% and 9.0 wt.%. Liquid fractionation with solvents of the bio-oil has been carried out. Chemical analyses of the fractions have shown that the main components in the bio-oil samples are alkanes, alkenes, oxygenated components (as alcohols) and nitrogen compounds (as nitriles) which are identified in the water insoluble fraction. Knowing the chemical composition of the bio-oils is important for assessing possible chemical and pharmaceutical applications of these bio-oils. The char samples have a notable ash content (63 wt.% to 77 wt.%) and its high Ca content could make it suitable for use as a catalyst in gasification processes. textcopyright 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
2010
Gil-Lalaguna, Noemí; Fonts, Isabel; Gea, Gloria; Murillo, María Benita; Lázaro, Luisa
Reduction of water content in sewage sludge pyrolysis liquid by selective online condensation of the vapors Journal Article
In: Energy and Fuels, vol. 24, no. 12, pp. 6555–6564, 2010, ISSN: 08870624.
@article{Gil-Lalaguna2010,
title = {Reduction of water content in sewage sludge pyrolysis liquid by selective online condensation of the vapors},
author = {Noemí Gil-Lalaguna and Isabel Fonts and Gloria Gea and María Benita Murillo and Luisa Lázaro},
url = {https://pubs.acs.org/sharingguidelines},
doi = {10.1021/ef101024j},
issn = {08870624},
year = {2010},
date = {2010-12-01},
journal = {Energy and Fuels},
volume = {24},
number = {12},
pages = {6555--6564},
publisher = {American Chemical Society},
abstract = {A selective online condensation system, including a scrubber and an electrostatic precipitator, has been tested in a lab-scale fluidized bed pyrolysis plant with the aim of reducing the water content of the pyrolysis liquid obtained from sewage sludge. Water and triethylene glycol at different temperatures were tested as washing liquids in the scrubber. The pyrolysis liquids collected with this liquid recovery system showed lower water contents (13-30 wt %) than those collected with a previous system (48 wt %) consisting of two condensers and an electrostatic precipitator. In spite of these significant reductions in the water contents, the liquids obtained still separated into three phases (light organic, heavy organic, and aqueous). The properties and yields of these phases were also affected by the operational conditions used in the scrubber. The aqueous phase was the most affected because the compounds present in this phase are those with greater affinity for the polar washing liquid used in the scrubber. The properties of the organic phases were less affected by the condensation system, although it is of interest that when using triethylene glycol at 80 °C as washing liquid, the yield to the light organic phase was increased by about 41% compared to the previous system without affecting its good properties as fuel. textcopyright 2010 American Chemical Society.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
A selective online condensation system, including a scrubber and an electrostatic precipitator, has been tested in a lab-scale fluidized bed pyrolysis plant with the aim of reducing the water content of the pyrolysis liquid obtained from sewage sludge. Water and triethylene glycol at different temperatures were tested as washing liquids in the scrubber. The pyrolysis liquids collected with this liquid recovery system showed lower water contents (13-30 wt %) than those collected with a previous system (48 wt %) consisting of two condensers and an electrostatic precipitator. In spite of these significant reductions in the water contents, the liquids obtained still separated into three phases (light organic, heavy organic, and aqueous). The properties and yields of these phases were also affected by the operational conditions used in the scrubber. The aqueous phase was the most affected because the compounds present in this phase are those with greater affinity for the polar washing liquid used in the scrubber. The properties of the organic phases were less affected by the condensation system, although it is of interest that when using triethylene glycol at 80 °C as washing liquid, the yield to the light organic phase was increased by about 41% compared to the previous system without affecting its good properties as fuel. textcopyright 2010 American Chemical Society.
2009
Fonts, Isabel; Azuara, Manuel; Lázaro, Luisa; Gea, Gloria; Murillo, María Benita
Gas chromatography study of sewage sludge pyrolysis liquids obtained at different operational conditions in a fluidized bed Journal Article
In: Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research, vol. 48, no. 12, pp. 5907–5915, 2009, ISSN: 08885885.
@article{Fonts2009b,
title = {Gas chromatography study of sewage sludge pyrolysis liquids obtained at different operational conditions in a fluidized bed},
author = {Isabel Fonts and Manuel Azuara and Luisa Lázaro and Gloria Gea and María Benita Murillo},
url = {https://pubs.acs.org/sharingguidelines},
doi = {10.1021/ie900421a},
issn = {08885885},
year = {2009},
date = {2009-06-01},
journal = {Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research},
volume = {48},
number = {12},
pages = {5907--5915},
publisher = {American Chemical Society},
abstract = {Sewage sludge was pyrolyzed in a fluidized bed under different operational conditions with the aim of studying the influence of some operational conditions on the composition of the liquid product. These operational conditions were bed temperature (450-650 ?C), inlet nitrogen rate (nitrogen flow per bed surface unit 0.057-0.090 m s-1), and solid feed rate per bed volumetric unit (0.169-0.338 kg s-1 m-3). The composition of the pyrolysis liquids obtained was analyzed by means of GC-MS and GC-FID. Different families of compounds appeared in the liquid samples obtained under the different conditions studied: aliphatic, aromatic, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; oxygen-containing aliphatic and aromatic compounds; nitrogencontaining aliphatic and aromatic compounds; steroids; chlorine-containing compounds; and sulfur-containing compounds. The composition of the liquids varied qualitatively with the temperature and quantitatively with the three operational parameters studied, with the temperature being the most influential variable. The liquids obtained at 450 ?C contained oxygen-containing aliphatic compounds > steroids > aliphatic hydrocarbons > nitrogen-containing aliphatic compounds. The compounds found in the liquids obtained at 550 ?C were quite similar to those obtained at 450 ?C, although their proportions were different: steroids > aliphatic hydrocarbons > oxygen-containing aliphatic compounds > nitrogen-containing aromatic compounds. The composition of the liquids obtained at 650 ?C varied considerably, and the most abundant compound groups were nitrogencontaining aromatic compounds > polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons > aromatic hydrocarbons. textcopyright2009 American Chemical Society.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Sewage sludge was pyrolyzed in a fluidized bed under different operational conditions with the aim of studying the influence of some operational conditions on the composition of the liquid product. These operational conditions were bed temperature (450-650 ?C), inlet nitrogen rate (nitrogen flow per bed surface unit 0.057-0.090 m s-1), and solid feed rate per bed volumetric unit (0.169-0.338 kg s-1 m-3). The composition of the pyrolysis liquids obtained was analyzed by means of GC-MS and GC-FID. Different families of compounds appeared in the liquid samples obtained under the different conditions studied: aliphatic, aromatic, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; oxygen-containing aliphatic and aromatic compounds; nitrogencontaining aliphatic and aromatic compounds; steroids; chlorine-containing compounds; and sulfur-containing compounds. The composition of the liquids varied qualitatively with the temperature and quantitatively with the three operational parameters studied, with the temperature being the most influential variable. The liquids obtained at 450 ?C contained oxygen-containing aliphatic compounds > steroids > aliphatic hydrocarbons > nitrogen-containing aliphatic compounds. The compounds found in the liquids obtained at 550 ?C were quite similar to those obtained at 450 ?C, although their proportions were different: steroids > aliphatic hydrocarbons > oxygen-containing aliphatic compounds > nitrogen-containing aromatic compounds. The composition of the liquids obtained at 650 ?C varied considerably, and the most abundant compound groups were nitrogencontaining aromatic compounds > polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons > aromatic hydrocarbons. textcopyright2009 American Chemical Society.
Fonts, Isabel; Azuara, Manuel; Gea, Gloria; Murillo, María Benita
Study of the pyrolysis liquids obtained from different sewage sludge Journal Article
In: Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis, vol. 85, no. 1-2, pp. 184–191, 2009, ISSN: 01652370.
@article{Fonts2009c,
title = {Study of the pyrolysis liquids obtained from different sewage sludge},
author = {Isabel Fonts and Manuel Azuara and Gloria Gea and María Benita Murillo},
doi = {10.1016/j.jaap.2008.11.003},
issn = {01652370},
year = {2009},
date = {2009-05-01},
journal = {Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis},
volume = {85},
number = {1-2},
pages = {184--191},
publisher = {Elsevier},
abstract = {Pyrolysis of sewage sludge in fluidized bed to produce bio-oil is under study as a useful way to valorise this waste. Sewage sludge is the waste produced in the wastewater treatment plants. Its composition may change due to the origin and to the non-standardized treatments in the wastewater treatment plants. The pyrolysis of three samples of anaerobically digested sewage sludge obtained from three different urban wastewater treatment plants was studied in this work. The organic and inorganic matter composition, and the volatile and ash content of these sewage sludge samples were different. The influence of these parameters on the pyrolysis product distribution and on some characteristics of these products was studied. It was determined that the ash content of the raw material had an enormous influence on the sewage sludge pyrolysis. An increase in the ash content of the sewage sludge caused an increase in the gas yield and a decrease in the liquid and the solid yield with the operational conditions studied. The increase of the volatile content of the sewage sludge samples caused an increase in the liquid yield. The H2 proportion was the most influenced non-condensable gas. It increased significantly with the ash content. The viscosity of the pyrolysis oils decreased when the ash content augmented. On the other hand, the water content depended on the organic composition of the sewage sludge samples. The chemical composition of the pyrolysis oils was also affected by the sewage sludge ash content above all the proportion of polyaromatic hydrocarbons and nitrogen-containing aromatic compounds. These compound groups increased with the augment of the sewage sludge ash content. The oxygen-containing aliphatic compounds and the steroids decreased with the ash content, although its proportion in the sewage sludge liquid was also influenced by the organic matter composition of the sewage sludge samples. textcopyright 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Pyrolysis of sewage sludge in fluidized bed to produce bio-oil is under study as a useful way to valorise this waste. Sewage sludge is the waste produced in the wastewater treatment plants. Its composition may change due to the origin and to the non-standardized treatments in the wastewater treatment plants. The pyrolysis of three samples of anaerobically digested sewage sludge obtained from three different urban wastewater treatment plants was studied in this work. The organic and inorganic matter composition, and the volatile and ash content of these sewage sludge samples were different. The influence of these parameters on the pyrolysis product distribution and on some characteristics of these products was studied. It was determined that the ash content of the raw material had an enormous influence on the sewage sludge pyrolysis. An increase in the ash content of the sewage sludge caused an increase in the gas yield and a decrease in the liquid and the solid yield with the operational conditions studied. The increase of the volatile content of the sewage sludge samples caused an increase in the liquid yield. The H2 proportion was the most influenced non-condensable gas. It increased significantly with the ash content. The viscosity of the pyrolysis oils decreased when the ash content augmented. On the other hand, the water content depended on the organic composition of the sewage sludge samples. The chemical composition of the pyrolysis oils was also affected by the sewage sludge ash content above all the proportion of polyaromatic hydrocarbons and nitrogen-containing aromatic compounds. These compound groups increased with the augment of the sewage sludge ash content. The oxygen-containing aliphatic compounds and the steroids decreased with the ash content, although its proportion in the sewage sludge liquid was also influenced by the organic matter composition of the sewage sludge samples. textcopyright 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.