Thermochemical Kinetics of Biomass Pyrolysis

Biomass pyrolysis is a thermochemical process in which organic matter undergoes controlled heating in the absence of oxygen, yielding biochar, bio-oil and non-condensable gases. The kinetics of this conversion dictate the rates and pathways of thermal decomposition and are typically characterised by activation energies, frequency factors and reaction mechanisms. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) remains the principal experimental tool, offering mass-loss profiles over programmed temperature ramps. From such data, model-free (isoconversional) and model-fitting methods extract kinetic parameters without excessive assumptions. Recent advances have refined multi-step kinetic schemes that distinguish dehydration, active devolatilisation and slow coke formation. Catalytic and co-pyrolysis strategies have been shown to alter activation barriers, promote selectivity and enhance product quality. Accurate kinetic descriptions underpin reactor design, scale-up and process control, and are essential for integrating pyrolysis into circular bioeconomies. The field continues to address challenges in feedstock heterogeneity, heat and mass transfer limitations, and the translation of bench-scale findings to industrial reactors. Ultimately, robust kinetic models guide the optimisation of energy yields, carbon sequestration via stable biochar and sustainable production of bio-derived chemicals.

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Thermochemical Kinetics of Biomass Pyrolysis publication trend

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

Technical terms

Pyrolysis: Thermal breakdown of organic material in an oxygen-free environment, producing solids, liquids and gases.

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

Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA): Technique that records mass change of a sample as temperature varies, used to study decomposition kinetics.

Isoconversional model: Kinetic method that determines activation energy at different conversion levels without assuming a single reaction mechanism.

Biochar: Solid carbonaceous residue from pyrolysis, valued for soil amendment and carbon sequestration.

Bio-oil: Complex liquid mixture of condensable pyrolysis vapours, rich in oxygenated organics, used as fuel or chemical feedstock.

References

1. Optimization and prediction of thermodynamic parameters in co-pyrolysis of banana peel and waste plastics using AIC model and ANN modeling. Energy Nexus (2024).
2. Biochar and bio-oil fuel properties from nickel nanoparticles assisted pyrolysis of cassava peel. Heliyon (2022).
3. Thermal decomposition of rice straw from rice basin of India to improve energy-pollution nexus: Kinetic modeling and thermodynamic analysis. Energy Nexus (2021).