Management of Lignocellulosic Waste towards Energy Recovery by Pyrolysis in the Framework of Circular Economy Strategy

The article presents the possibilities of effective management of lignocellulosic waste by including it in the circular economy. The pyrolysis process was chosen as the thermal conversion method. This approach, due to a high flexibility of the obtained products, better quality of the solid residue (char), and the lower emission of pollutants into the atmosphere, e.g., SO2 and NOx, is a competitive solution compared to combustion process. Wood waste from alder and pine were analyzed. As part of laboratory tests, the elementary composition was determined, i.e., C, H, N, S, and O. The pyrolysis process was carried out at a temperature of 600 degrees C on an experimental stand for the conversion of solid fuels in a stationary bed. For the obtained data, using the Ansys Chemkin-Pro calculation tool, the detailed chemical composition of gaseous products of the pyrolysis process was modeled for a varying temperature range and residence time in the reactor. The studies have shown that for certain process conditions it is possible to obtain a high calorific value of pyrolytic gas, up to 25 MJ/m(3).

Automated summary

This article explores the potential for effective management of lignocellulosic waste by incorporating it into the circular economy, utilizing the pyrolysis process as a thermal conversion method. The study shows that pyrolysis offers higher flexibility and better product quality compared to traditional combustion processes, with lower emissions of pollutants into the atmosphere. Additionally, laboratory tests revealed the chemical composition of wood waste and demonstrated the possibility of achieving a high calorific value of pyrolytic gas under specific process conditions.