Energies (Jun 2022)

An Overview on Co-Pyrolysis of Biodegradable and Non-Biodegradable Wastes

  • Hemant Ghai,
  • Deepak Sakhuja,
  • Shikha Yadav,
  • Preeti Solanki,
  • Chayanika Putatunda,
  • Ravi Kant Bhatia,
  • Arvind Kumar Bhatt,
  • Sunita Varjani,
  • Yung-Hun Yang,
  • Shashi Kant Bhatia,
  • Abhishek Walia

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/en15114168
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 15, no. 11
p. 4168

Abstract

Read online

Continuous urbanization and modernization have increased the burning of fossil fuels to meet energy needs across the globe, emanating environmental pollution and depleting fossil fuels. Therefore, a shift towards sustainable and renewable energy is necessary. Several techniques to exploit biomass to yield energy are trending, with pyrolysis one of them. Usually, a single feedstock is employed in pyrolysis for anoxygenic generation of biochar together with bio-oil at elevated temperatures (350–600 °C). Bio-oil produced through pyrolysis can be upgraded to crude oil after some modification. However, these modifications of bio-oil are one of the major drawbacks for its large-scale adoption, as upgradation increases the overall cost. Therefore, in recent years the scientific community has been researching co-pyrolysis technology that involves the pyrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass waste with non-biodegradable waste. Co-pyrolysis reduces the need for post-modification of bio-oil, unlike pyrolysis of a single feedstock. This review article discusses the recent advancements and technological challenges in waste biomass co-pyrolysis, the mechanism of co-pyrolysis, and factors that affect co-pyrolysis. The current study critically analyzes different recent research articles presented in databases such as PubMed, MDPI, ScienceDirect, Springer, etc. Hence, this review is one-of-a-kind in that it attempts to explain each and every aspect of the co-pyrolysis process and its current progress in the scientific field. Consequently, this review also compiles the remarkable achievements in co-pyrolysis and recommendations for the future.

Keywords