What’s Pyrolysis?

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Pyrolysis is a form of decomposition that occurs in an environment with little or no oxygen that is very hot and can also be under high pressure. This form of decomposition can occur in nature and can also be used in controlled environments for various purposes. Some industrial products are made with the aid of pyrolysis, and it is also used to make experimental fuels and in various other applications, both experimental and commercial.

With pyrolysis, thermal decomposition occurs, with material breaking down under heat to produce gas, water, and solid byproducts that can take the form of ash or charcoal. Sometimes thick tar is also produced during pyrolysis, depending on what is being broken down. In one example of this phenomenon in nature, lava causes thermal decomposition as it flows over vegetation. In laboratories and production environments, pyrolysis is often performed in a reactor.

The more oxygen present during thermal decomposition, the more oxidation will occur during the reaction. Therefore, people can take steps to try and minimize the oxygen in the environment where they are creating a pyrolysis reaction and can even conduct the reaction in a vacuum in some cases. In other cases, the reactor will simply be solidly constructed with gaskets designed to keep as much oxygen out as possible, since oxidation can interfere with the process.

Pyrolysis can be used specifically to process various materials to access useful byproducts of thermal decomposition, such as pyrolysis oil, a type of synthetic fuel, and various gases that are used in industrial processes. A wide variety of materials can be broken down with this process, including products such as rubber tires, which can be broken down and made into useful by-products with thermal decomposition instead of simply being landfilled. Thermal decomposition of other materials can also help reduce pressure on the world’s landfills.

Biomass pyrolysis is a process of particular interest to people interested in the development of alternative fuels. Gasification, as it’s sometimes called, can be used to power engines without relying on petroleum-based fuels. In fact, gasification has historically been used during times of fuel shortages. Working gassing vehicles have been built to demonstrate the potential applications of this process, with their drivers also sometimes using them as the primary vehicles for transportation. These drivers also like to use their vehicles for public relations, demonstrating that pyrolysis is possible and has potential by modeling it on the roads.

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