Biochar from Biomass Slow Pyrolysis

Abstract

Abstract Pyrolysis is widely used in the chemical industry to produce e.g. carbon black from heavy fuel oil (HFO) and coke from coal, to convert post-consumer plastic waste into chemicals, to transform heavier hydrocarbons into lighter ones, and to thermo-chemically treat biomass. Whereas a lot of work has been presented on the fast pyrolytic production of bio-oil from biomass, the objectives of biochar and added-value chemicals are now a major focus when using biomass in a slow pyrolysis reactor. Fast pyrolysis targets mostly bio-oil (up to 60 or 70 wt%). Slow pyrolysis targets mostly biochar (up to ∼60 wt%), together with 25-30 wt% of bio-oil and the balance as gas. The paper presents results from biomass pyrolysis in the slow operating mode and assesses the products formed and their application perspectives.