Top 10 Applications of Biomass Pyrolysis

1 Biochar Production

Biomass pyrolysis technology can convert biomass feedstock into biochar and charcoal. This kind of biochar has porous nature, high specific surface area and rich surface functional groups, so it is widely used in soil improvement, bioremediation and filtration. It can improve soil structure, enhance soil fertility and water retention capacity, and promote plant growth. In addition, as an effective negative emission technology, biochar is making a non-negligible impact on achieving carbon neutrality.
 

2 Heat/Steam Production

A large amount of heat is produced during the biomass pyrolysis process. Through waste heat collection and utilisation systems, we can effectively utilise this heat for parts that require large amounts of heat, such as boiler heating, drying and steam generation. Compared to traditional fossil fuels, the heat and steam produced from biomass pyrolysis is more environmentally friendly and sustainable, helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and environmental pollution.
 

3 Wood Vinegar Liquid

Wood vinegar liquid is obtained by recovering condensate from the steam produced during the pyrolysis of biomass. The organic acids and other active ingredients in wood vinegar liquid have repellent effects on insects and can be used for pest control in agricultural production; at the same time, wood vinegar liquid can also promote the growth of crop roots and improve the yield and quality of crops; in addition, wood vinegar liquid can be effective in disinfecting, deodorising and repelling insects, which is widely used in fishponds, rubbish dumps and animal farms.
 

4 Syngas/Green Electricity Generation

During the biomass pyrolysis process, a considerable amount of syngas is generated, which can be combusted or converted to produce green electricity, providing a clean and sustainable energy supply for equipment operation. At the same time, this green power can also be connected to the public grid to provide electricity for industrial or residential use in a wider area.
 

5 Valorising Sewage Sludge

Sewage sludge can be converted into solid fuel or heat through pyrolysis. Conventional sludge treatment methods not only waste land resources, but also inevitably cause pollution of land and water resources in the long run, ultimately threatening normal human life. Pyrolysis realises the value-added use of sludge and reduces the environmental burden to a great extent. Organic substances in sludge are converted into valuable products such as biochar and syngas during the pyrolysis process, while inorganic substances can be added to building materials.
 

6 Agricultural Waste Treatment

As one of the important production activities for human beings, the agricultural sector produces hundreds of millions of tonnes of agricultural wastes every year, such as straw, rice husk, nut shells, cannabis stalks, coconut shells, oil palm EFB, and so on. Instead of simply piling them up or burning them, it is better to combine them with biomass pyrolysis to convert them into biochar with high added value. Imagine these agricultural wastes being produced from the land and eventually converted into fertilisers that are added to the soil to nourish the land, how is this not a wonderful virtuous cycle!
 

7 Turning Animal Waste to Treasure

Animal manure contains a lot of organic matter, and may carry pathogenic microorganisms and a variety of parasitic eggs, if not handled in a timely manner and rational use, will cause serious organic pollution and biological pollution, become an environmental nuisance, endangering the health of people and animals. Converting animal manure into biochar not only solves the pollution problem of animal manure, but also achieves the value-added use of manure. More importantly, the produced biochar can also be used as an additive to animal feed, which can enhance the animal's physical condition and promote the animal's healthy growth.
 

8 Garden Waste Management

Garden waste, also known as yard waste, is a type of biowaste collected during municipal garden maintenance activities (e.g., pruning, trimming, clearing green spaces and ploughing). Garden waste usually consists of branches, sticks, clippings, and a variety of organic materials. This garden waste is collected and converted into biochar through a pyrolysis process. Biochar can be used for urban greening and soil improvement.
 

9 Charcoal-based Fertiliser Production

Charcoal-based fertiliser is an ecological and environmentally friendly fertiliser made from biomass charcoal as a substrate, which is formulated by adding organic or/and inorganic substances according to the characteristics of land in different regions, the growth characteristics of different crops, and the principles of scientific fertilisation. Biochar is a charcoal with extremely rich charcoal content formed through high-temperature pyrolysis and carbonisation of bio-organic materials (small fuel wood, crop stalks, weeds, etc.). Based on the traditional process, biochar is added to form a green fertiliser conducive to crop growth - charcoal-based fertiliser.

 

10 Activated Carbon Manufacturing

After pyrolysis and carbonisation of biomass-based raw materials, we get biochar. The next step is to activate the produced biochar to further improve the porosity and adsorption power of the charcoal briquettes. According to the actual use of the activated carbon for grinding or block making, granulation, etc., in the field of water treatment, air purification, toxic gas purification and other fields have a wide range of applications.