Strategic CO2 utilization for shifting carbon distribution from pyrolytic oil to syngas in pyrolysis of food waste

This study laid great emphasis on strategic use of CO2 as reaction medium and raw material for energy recovery from food waste via shifting carbon distribution from pyrolytic oil to syngas. Thus, the mechanistic understanding of CO2 in pyrolysis of food waste was investigated systematically in this study. To this end, the thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA) of food waste in N2 and CO2 was carried out. The TGA test evidenced that any physical aspects describing the thermal degradation such as onset and end temperature were not influenced by CO2. A scale-up experimental work was also conducted with a batch-type tubular reactor to figure out any chemical influences induced by CO2 in pyrolysis of food waste. CO2 in pyrolysis of food waste imparted the genuine capability for shifting carbon distribution from pyrolytic oil to syngas. CO2 led to carbon distribution shift from pyrolytic oil to syngas (i.e., enhanced generation of H2 and CO). Particularly, the generation of CO evolved from pyrolysis of food waste in CO2 was substantially enhanced by a factor of 100 at 800 °C. Thus, all experimental findings in this study significantly introduced an innovative way to use CO2 as energy resources, thereby substantially boosting the sustainability in the thermo-chemical process.