Biofuels and Bioenergy

Pyrolysis & Gasification

Pyrolysis and gasification are two key thermochemical conversion technologies that play a vital role in the production of biofuels, syngas, and other valuable products from biomass and waste materials. These processes are gaining increasing attention due to their ability to efficiently convert organic matter into cleaner energy sources, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and mitigating environmental concerns. While both pyrolysis and gasification involve the thermal breakdown of feedstocks, they differ in their operating conditions, reaction pathways, and end products.Pyrolysis is a process in which biomass or waste materials are heated in the absence of oxygen, causing the feedstock to decompose into three primary products: biochar, bio-oil, and syngas. The temperature range for pyrolysis typically falls between 300°C and 700°C. Depending on the processing conditions, pyrolysis can be classified into slow, fast, or flash pyrolysis. Slow pyrolysis occurs at lower temperatures with longer residence times, favoring biochar production, which is valuable for soil amendment and carbon sequestration.