PYROLYSIS TECHNOLOGIES FOR WOOD CONVERSION INTO BIOGAS AND BIO-OIL: OPPORTUNITIES AND PROSPECTS

Abstract

This article examines the process of wood pyrolysis as an effective method for converting biomass into renewable energy sources with high energy potential. Pyrolysis, which involves the thermal decomposition of organic raw materials in the absence of or with limited access to oxygen, in the construction and industrial sectors, pyrolysis helps improve energy efficiency, reduce waste, and promote the development of alternative energy sources, produces three main products: bio-oil (liquid fuel), biochar (carbon residue), and synthesis gas (a mixture of hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and methane). Each of these products has specific properties, advantages, and applications. Bio-oil can be used as an alternative to diesel fuel in power plants, biochar as a soil conditioner, fertilizer, sorbent, or activated carbon, and synthesis gas as fuel for electricity generation or as a feedstock for the chemical industry, particularly for the synthesis of methanol, ammonia, and hydrogen.

This paper presents the basic equations and relationships for estimating the energy potential of biomass, taking into account its moisture content, density, calorific value, and elemental composition. It also examines approaches to determining the yield of pyrolysis products depending on the process temperature, heating rate, treatment duration, and type of wood. Particular attention is paid to the analysis of the average heat of combustion of the resulting products, which allows for an assessment of their energy efficiency and the feasibility of their use under various conditions. It is shown that the use of pyrolysis contributes to a significant reduction in CO₂ emissions compared to direct wood combustion or the use of fossil fuels.

Particular emphasis is placed on the environmental benefits of the technology and the possibilities for its integration into modern agricultural systems. Biochar produced through pyrolysis serves as a stable source of carbon in the soil, improving its structure, water-holding capacity, microbial activity, and overall fertility. The results confirm the feasibility of widespread implementation of wood pyrolysis technologies as an element of the circular economy, aimed at reducing anthropogenic impact on the environment, developing environmentally safe energy, and promoting the rational use of natural resources.