Pyrolysis is a thermochemical process that involves heating biomass or organic polymeric wastes in the absence of air or oxygen.
This process leads to the decomposition of the organic compounds, resulting in the production of various products.
One of the main products of pyrolysis is pyrolytic gas, which is a mixture of gases such as H2, hydrocarbon gases (C1–C4), CO2, CO, and H2S.
The gases produced can be classified into three categories: incombustible gases (H2O and CO2), combustible gases (CO and CH4), and N-containing gases (NH3 and HCN).
The formation of CO2 mainly originates from the decomposition reactions of carbonyl and carboxyl groups in biomass pyrolysis.
The formation of CO mainly results from the breaking of C-O-C and C = O bonds.
H2 is mainly produced from the breaking of C-H groups and aromatics.
CO and CO2 are dominant gaseous products at low temperatures, while CH4 is dominant at high temperatures.
In addition to gases, pyrolysis also produces solid, liquid, and non-condensable gases.
The solid product is called char or biochar, which is composed of organic matter with a high carbon content and ash.
The liquid product is known as bio-oil, which is a brown, polar liquid composed of a mix of oxygenated compounds.
The non-condensable gases include carbon monoxide (CO), hydrogen (H2), methane (CH4), and carbon dioxide (CO2).
It is important to note that pyrolysis is different from complete combustion, which produces carbon dioxide and water in the presence of oxygen.
Pyrolysis is an endothermic process that does not involve the complete oxidation of the material and, therefore, produces different products.
Overall, pyrolysis produces a wide range of products, including gases (CO, CO2, CH4, H2), solid char or biochar, and liquid bio-oil.
The specific composition of these products depends on factors such as the temperature of pyrolysis and the type of biomass or organic waste used as feedstock.
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