Pyrolysis Kinetics and Thermal Behavior of Biomass

Pyrolysis refers to the thermal decomposition of organic material in the absence of oxygen, leading to the formation of solid char, liquid bio-oil and gaseous products. Biomass pyrolysis kinetics examines the rates and mechanisms by which lignocellulosic components—cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin—break down under controlled heating. Thermal behaviour encompasses the manner in which feedstock composition, heating rate, particle size and catalytic additives influence heat and mass transfer, reaction pathways and product distribution. Characteristic reaction stages include moisture removal, depolymerisation and secondary cracking, each identifiable in thermogravimetric (TGA) and differential thermogravimetric (DTG) curves. Quantitative evaluation of activation energy and pre-exponential factors, via model-fitting (such as Coats–Redfern) or model-free (isoconversional) methods, underpins reactor design and scale-up. Recent advances have highlighted the synergistic benefits of co-pyrolysis, the role of shape-selective catalysts and the integration of data-driven optimisation to lower energy inputs and enhance yield selectivity. The global significance of this field lies in its capacity to transform agricultural residues, forestry by-products and organic wastes into renewable fuels, chemical precursors and value-added materials, contributing to carbon-neutral energy systems and circular bioeconomies.

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Pyrolysis Kinetics and Thermal Behavior of Biomass publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in pyrolysis kinetics and thermal behavior of biomass across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Pyrolysis: Thermal degradation of organic material in an oxygen-free environment, yielding char, liquid and gas.

Activation energy (Eₐ): Minimum energy barrier that must be overcome for a chemical reaction to proceed.

Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA): Technique measuring mass loss of a sample as it is heated under controlled atmosphere.

Differential thermogravimetric analysis (DTG): Derivative of TGA data, highlighting rates of mass loss at specific temperatures.

Isoconversional methods: Model-free approaches that estimate kinetic parameters at constant degrees of conversion without assuming a reaction model.

Coats–Redfern method: A model-fitting technique to extract kinetic parameters by linearising non-isothermal TGA data.

Char: Carbon-rich solid residue remaining after the volatile fraction is driven off during pyrolysis.

Bio-oil: Condensed liquid containing a complex mixture of oxygenated organics produced by biomass pyrolysis.

References

1. Co-pyrolysis of Chlorella vulgaris with plastic wastes: Thermal degradation, kinetics and Progressive Depth Swarm-Evolution (PDSE) neural network-based optimization. Green Technologies and Sustainability (2024).
2. Pyrolysis kinetics, physicochemical characteristics and thermal decomposition behavior of agricultural wastes using thermogravimetric analysis. Energy Nexus (2023).
3. Thermal decomposition behavior and kinetics for pyrolysis and catalytic pyrolysis of Douglas fir. RSC Advances (2018).