Physicochemical and Pyrolysis Kinetic Aspects of Biomass Feedstocks: An Overview

Abstract

This chapter focuses on physicochemical properties and kinetics of wood, agricultural, industrial waste, and energy crops for the application of pyrolysis. In the future, biomass could replace fossil fuels as a significant source of renewable energy. Pyrolysis produces valuable energy products, including bio-oil, biochar, and gases under an inert atmosphere and temperatures of 200–600 °C. The physicochemical characteristics are predicted by the lignocellulosic composition, proximal and ultimate analyses, which indicate the potential of biomass for pyrolysis. Reactions progressions depend on kinetics including activation energies and pre-exponential factors. The study of physicochemical and kinetic parameters is crucial for biomass thermal decomposition, design, and optimization of pyrolysis reactor as well as process conditions to obtain the desired product from pyrolysis.