Effects of carbon dioxide on pyrolysis of peat

This study focuses on the mechanistic understanding of effects of CO2 on pyrolysis of peat. To do this, three pyrolytic products (i.e., syngas: H2 and CO, pyrolytic oil (tar), and biochar) were characterized. Thermal cracking of volatile organic carbons (VOCs) generated from pyrolysis of peat was enhanced in the presence of CO2. Besides the enhanced thermal cracking of VOCs, unknown reaction between CO2 and VOCs was also identified. Accordingly, CO2 played a role in enhancing syngas production and in reducing tar formation in pyrolysis of peat. This study also reveals that peat-biochar produced in CO2 exhibited a larger surface area than that produced in N2. The results shown in this paper would be used for various applications such as energy recovery from peat using a potent greenhouse gas (for example, CO2).