Biomass waste conversion into value-added products via microwave-assisted Co-Pyrolysis platform

The current work is focused to investigate the synergetic interactions between biomass (groundnut shell, bagasse, rice husk, Prosopis juliflora, mixed wood sawdust) and hydro-rich plastics (Low-density poly-ethylene (LDPE) and Polyisoprene (PIP)) in microwave co-pyrolysis. The heating value of co-pyrolysis oil (38-42 MJ kg(-1)) was enhanced dramatically compared to biomass pyrolysis oil (20-28 MJ kg(-1)). Among biomasses studied, the energy yield of bio-oil obtained from rice husk with LDPE mixture is higher (42%). Whereas bio-oil from polyisoprene and groundnut shell mixture has the highest energy yield (78%). Each gram of co-pyrolysis feedstock consumed 12-18 kJ of incident microwave energy. An increase in overall energy efficiency in co-pyrolysis (62-70%) is observed compared to that of biomass pyrolysis (46-57%). Actual mass yield (31-47 wt%) of co-pyrolysis bio-crude is lower than its predicted value (42-57 wt%) due to the formation of lighter gases. In the combinations of and hydrogen-rich plastics considered in this study, it was found that co-pyrolysis of LDPE: bagasse has produced bio-crude with the highest yield of aliphatic hydrocarbons (25.78%), and co-pyrolysis of LDPE: rice husk has produced bio-crude with high selectivity of aromatics (11.7%). The extent of de-oxygenation was promoted in the co-pyrolysis due to synergy. (C) 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The study focuses on investigating the synergistic interactions between biomass and hydro-rich plastics in microwave co-pyrolysis. It was found that the overall energy efficiency in co-pyrolysis is significantly higher compared to that of biomass pyrolysis, with different biomass-plastic combinations affecting the yield and energy output of bio-oil.