(2017) Energy_Study on susceptibility of CO₂-assisted pyrolysis of various biomass to CO₂ 
 

Lee J., Oh J.-I., Ok Y.S., Kwon E.E.
 

(Elsevier Ltd) Energy ISSN: 3605442 Vol.137 Issue. Article No. DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2017.01.155

This study systematically investigates simultaneous genuine roles of CO₂ in pyrolysis process by comparing the susceptibility of pyrolysis of various biomass feedstocks (spent coffee ground, oak wood, corn stover, macroalgae, microalgae, cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin) to CO₂: 1) the enhanced thermal cracking of volatile organic carbons (VOCs) evolved from the thermal decomposition of biomass and 2) the direct reaction between VOCs and CO₂. The identified roles of CO₂ led to the enhanced generation of CO and the subsequent reduction of condensable tar. Even though the influence of CO₂ on pyrolysis of various biomass and coal was universal, it exhibited a different magnitude due to the different susceptibility to CO₂. This study also reports that the susceptibility to CO₂ was contingent on the lignin content in biomass. © 2017 Elsevier Ltd