Assessment of Pyrolysis Material Selection Using Weighted Sum Model as an Auxiliary Tool

Abstract

Human life depends on energy, but it is predicted that in the years to come, those resources will become scarce, with potentially harmful effects on the environment. Currently, “fossil fuels like coal, oil, petroleum products, and natural gas” are used to provide for the world's energy needs. Due to the presence of numerous criteria, including social, economic, and environmental concerns, producing energy from agricultural wastes is particularly difficult in the current stage of energy development. "Fast pyrolysis" can be used to convert biomass into renewable fuels and chemicals. However, the development of the comparatively straightforward and efficient conversion technology is severely hampered by “the biomass recalcitrance, the limitations of the quick pyrolysis process/reactor, and the poor qualities of the final products”.Choosing the best biomass material for the greatest amount of bio-oil conversion during pyrolysis is one of the most significant issues and a "multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM)" challenge. In this paper, the “Weighted Sum Model (WSM)” method was used to assess the viability of utilising readily available biomass in the area. In this paper “Sunflower shell, Hardwood, Wheat straw, Sugarcane bagasse and Corn cob” were taken as alternative parameters. “Cellulose, Hemicellulose, Volatile matter, Moisture content and Ash content” are evaluated for the selection of the pyrolysis process. The rank Sunflower shell is second, Hardwood is first, Wheat straw is fifth, Sugarcane bagasse is third and Corn cob is fourth by using the WSM method. Hardwood is placed first among the five biomass materials, trailed by sunflower shells.