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
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.
Fonts, Isabel; Juan, Alfonso; Gea, Gloria; Murillo, María Benita; Arauzo, Jesús
Sewage sludge pyrolysis in a fluidized bed, 2: Influence of operating conditions on some physicochemical properties of the liquid product Journal Article
In: Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research, vol. 48, no. 4, pp. 2179–2187, 2009, ISSN: 08885885.
@article{Fonts2009a,
title = {Sewage sludge pyrolysis in a fluidized bed, 2: Influence of operating conditions on some physicochemical properties of the liquid product},
author = {Isabel Fonts and Alfonso Juan and Gloria Gea and María Benita Murillo and Jesús Arauzo},
url = {https://pubs.acs.org/sharingguidelines},
doi = {10.1021/ie801448g},
issn = {08885885},
year = {2009},
date = {2009-02-01},
journal = {Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research},
volume = {48},
number = {4},
pages = {2179--2187},
publisher = {American Chemical Society},
abstract = {Sewage sludge was pyrolyzed at different operating conditions with the aim of producing pyrolysis liquid. In this work, the influence of some operating conditions was studied in relation to some liquid properties such as homogeneity (phase separation), solids content, water content, and high heating value. The operating variables studied were bed temperature (450-650°C), inlet nitrogen rate (0.057-0.090 m s-1), and solid feed rate per volumetric unit (0.169-0.338 kg s-1 m-3). Phase separation appeared in the samples obtained at almost all operating conditions studied, and it was different depending on the operating temperature and the sample of sewage sludge. The experimental methodology for analyzing the quantitative properties of the pyrolysis liquid under study was based on experimental design techniques. These liquid properties were influenced in different ways by the three studied operating conditions, but above all by the temperature, the inlet nitrogen rate, and also the sample of sewage sludge. Based on the experimental data, empirical models were built to describe the influence of the operating conditions on the liquid properties. Additionally, using these empirical models, operating conditions (within the intervals under study) that allow a high liquid yield and a liquid product with desirable values of the studied properties to be obtained were predicted theoretically. textcopyright 2009 American Chemical Society.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Sewage sludge was pyrolyzed at different operating conditions with the aim of producing pyrolysis liquid. In this work, the influence of some operating conditions was studied in relation to some liquid properties such as homogeneity (phase separation), solids content, water content, and high heating value. The operating variables studied were bed temperature (450-650°C), inlet nitrogen rate (0.057-0.090 m s-1), and solid feed rate per volumetric unit (0.169-0.338 kg s-1 m-3). Phase separation appeared in the samples obtained at almost all operating conditions studied, and it was different depending on the operating temperature and the sample of sewage sludge. The experimental methodology for analyzing the quantitative properties of the pyrolysis liquid under study was based on experimental design techniques. These liquid properties were influenced in different ways by the three studied operating conditions, but above all by the temperature, the inlet nitrogen rate, and also the sample of sewage sludge. Based on the experimental data, empirical models were built to describe the influence of the operating conditions on the liquid properties. Additionally, using these empirical models, operating conditions (within the intervals under study) that allow a high liquid yield and a liquid product with desirable values of the studied properties to be obtained were predicted theoretically. textcopyright 2009 American Chemical Society.
2008
Fonts, Isabel; Juan, Alfonso; Gea, Gloria; Murillo, María Benita; Sánchez, José Luis
Sewage sludge pyrolysis in fluidized bed, 1: Influence of operational conditions on the product distribution Journal Article
In: Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research, vol. 47, no. 15, pp. 5376–5385, 2008, ISSN: 08885885.
@article{Fonts2008,
title = {Sewage sludge pyrolysis in fluidized bed, 1: Influence of operational conditions on the product distribution},
author = {Isabel Fonts and Alfonso Juan and Gloria Gea and María Benita Murillo and José Luis Sánchez},
url = {https://pubs.acs.org/sharingguidelines},
doi = {10.1021/ie7017788},
issn = {08885885},
year = {2008},
date = {2008-08-01},
journal = {Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research},
volume = {47},
number = {15},
pages = {5376--5385},
publisher = {American Chemical Society},
abstract = {In this work, pyrolysis of sewage sludge in a fluidized bed was studied experimentally in order to obtain a liquid product able to be used in energetic applications. The influence of operational conditions on the product distribution was studied. The operational variables were as follows: temperature (450-650°C), nitrogen flow rate (3.5-5.5 L(NTP) min-1), and solid feed rate (3.0-6.0 g min-1). Their influence was considered on me yields to the three pyrolysis products: solid, liquid, and gas. The liquid yield was mainly influenced by the bed temperature but also by the nitrogen flow rate and the solid feed rate. The bed temperature and the nitrogen flow rate showed a quadratic effect, and the maximum liquid yield was achieved at around 540°C and around 4.5 L(NTP) min-1 of nitrogen. The solid feed rate just affected on the liquid yield at the lower temperatures studied, and the maximum liquid yield was obtained at the lowest solid feed rates. The design of experiments (DOE) statistical tool was used in me preparation of the work. textcopyright 2008 American Chemical Society.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
In this work, pyrolysis of sewage sludge in a fluidized bed was studied experimentally in order to obtain a liquid product able to be used in energetic applications. The influence of operational conditions on the product distribution was studied. The operational variables were as follows: temperature (450-650°C), nitrogen flow rate (3.5-5.5 L(NTP) min-1), and solid feed rate (3.0-6.0 g min-1). Their influence was considered on me yields to the three pyrolysis products: solid, liquid, and gas. The liquid yield was mainly influenced by the bed temperature but also by the nitrogen flow rate and the solid feed rate. The bed temperature and the nitrogen flow rate showed a quadratic effect, and the maximum liquid yield was achieved at around 540°C and around 4.5 L(NTP) min-1 of nitrogen. The solid feed rate just affected on the liquid yield at the lower temperatures studied, and the maximum liquid yield was obtained at the lowest solid feed rates. The design of experiments (DOE) statistical tool was used in me preparation of the work. textcopyright 2008 American Chemical Society.