Synthesis of renewable carbon biorefinery products from susceptor enhanced microwave-assisted pyrolysis of agro-residual waste: A review

Abstract

Valuable renewable carbon biorefinery products can be obtained by using agro-residual biomass as a feedstock. Bio-oil, gas, and char products can be obtained from Microwave-assisted pyrolysis (MAP) by converting agro-residual waste. In MAP, the process variables like microwave power, temperature, heating rate, raw materials, susceptors, and catalysts play an important role to alter the product spectrum. The temperature, heating rate, and pyrolysis time can be tuned to obtain the desired products during biomass decomposition. The obtained carbonaceous products can be used as intermediated feedstocks to synthesize a variety of end products. Hence, in this review, the application of MAP for the conversion of agro-residual waste is discussed. Special focus is given to the interaction of microwaves with susceptors. This manuscript provides background, current status, progress, and future scope of MAP technology for waste valorization. The objectives of the review are to address (i) The necessity of environmental protection, (ii) The role of biorefinery in the biomass conversion, (iii) The advancements in the MAP for the resource recovery, (iv) The mechanism of heat generation from microwaves, (v) The effects of process parameters, susceptors, and catalysts in MAP, (vi) The interactions of biomass and susceptors during the pyrolysis, (vii) The formation of valuable renewable carbon products and (viii) The future scope and challenges for the integration of MAP in solid waste management.