Slow pyrolysis is a process that involves the gradual heating of organic materials in the absence of oxygen.
The primary product of this process is charcoal.
This process is also known as carbonisation, which emphasizes the solid charcoal output rather than the liquid products emphasized in fast pyrolysis.
What is the Process of Slow Pyrolysis? 4 Key Steps Explained
1. Heating and Environment
Slow pyrolysis involves heating organic materials slowly.
The heating rate is typically between 0.1 to 2 °C per second.
The process maintains a temperature of nearly 500°C (932°F).
It occurs in the absence of oxygen to prevent combustion.
This allows the organic material to decompose without burning.
2. Product Formation
As the biomass is slowly heated, it undergoes devolatilization.
This releases tar and char as the main products.
The process is characterized by lengthy solids and gas residence times.
These times can range from minutes to days for the biomass and over five seconds for the gas.
3. Chemical Reactions
During slow pyrolysis, primary reactions lead to the release of volatile compounds.
Following these primary reactions, repolymerization or recombination reactions occur.
These reactions help in the formation of the solid charcoal product.
This process minimizes the production of oil and maximizes the yield of charcoal.
Charcoal typically consists of about 80% carbon.
4. Comparison with Fast Pyrolysis
Unlike slow pyrolysis, fast pyrolysis emphasizes the production of bio-oil and gas.
It involves rapid heating to higher temperatures (650 to 1000 °C).
The residence times are shorter, typically seconds.
Fast pyrolysis also produces biochar and syngas.
Bio-oil constitutes about 60% of the output.
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