Thermochemical pyrolysis of biomass using solar energy for efficient biofuel production: a review

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The increasing energy demand of a rapidly growing population has rekindled the interest of humankind in the use of biomass as a source of energy. The main factors behind this resurgent interest in biofuels are the fast-depleting fossil fuel reservoirs and concerns regarding climate change. The proper choice of technology for conversion of biomass into clean-burning fuel is essential for sustained use of biomass as a source of energy. Various thermo-chemical conversion processes such as combustion, hydrogenation, liquefaction, gasification and pyrolysis have been utilized to extract various energy products from biomass. Even though pyrolysis, of all the thermo-chemical processes, is still in a preliminary stage of development, it has received special attention in our present energy scenario as it can convert biomass into various liquid, solid and gaseous products. The use of solar energy provides a renewable source for pyrolysis, which gives it an edge over use of thermal energy. This paper presents a comprehensive review of the various pyrolysis techniques and their comparative advantages and disadvantages in terms of their environmental impacts. The advantages of using solar thermal power over other pyrolysis methods are also covered in detail.