The feedstocks for pyrolysis are diverse and can include both organic and inorganic materials. Key feedstocks include methane, ethane, petroleum naphtha, light gas and fuel oils, coal, agricultural waste, forestry by-products, burned trees, mixed plastics, and animal wastes.
Methane, Ethane, Petroleum Naphtha, Light Gas, and Fuel Oils: These are primarily used in industrial pyrolysis processes to produce large tonnages of chemicals like ethylene. These processes typically operate at high temperatures (700 to 1200°C) and pressures (1-30 bar) in long, thin reactor tubes made of refractory alloys. The reactions involve the cleavage of covalent bonds, releasing reactive free radicals, and can produce a wide spectrum of products from light gases to tars and coke.
Coal: Pyrolysis of coal involves the release of volatiles (gases and tars) and the formation of chars. The product distribution (gas-tar-char) is significantly affected by the temperature, pressure, and heating rate during the pyrolytic step.
Agricultural Waste, Forestry By-products, Burned Trees, Mixed Plastics, and Animal Wastes: These materials are increasingly used in pyrolysis for the production of syngas, liquid bio-oil, char, and wood alcohol. Pyrolysis is particularly suited for high lignin content materials that do not compete with food production. The products from these feedstocks are used mainly for power production, but also for agricultural uses and chemical production.
Technologies and Economics: Pyrolysis technologies vary, with the most common being fast pyrolysis, slow pyrolysis, and gasification. The choice of technology depends on the desired product distribution, which is influenced by factors such as temperature, residence time, feed pretreatment, and equipment used. Fast pyrolysis, for example, maximizes the production of gases and oil, while slow pyrolysis modifies the solid material and minimizes oil production.
In summary, the feedstocks for pyrolysis are highly diverse, ranging from fossil fuels like methane and coal to renewable resources like agricultural waste and mixed plastics. The choice of feedstock and pyrolysis technology depends on the desired end products and the specific industrial or environmental objectives.
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