Comparing the composition of the synthesis-gas obtained from the pyrolysis of different organic residues for a potential use in the synthesis of bioplastics

•Organic wastes can serve as substrates to produce syngas.•High quality syngas, i.e., >92 vol% of H2 + CO + CO2, can be produced from organic waste.•Microwave-pyrolysis of wastes can be an efficient way to yield high quality syngas.•Syngas from microwave-pyrolysis could be used for bioplastics production.

In this article we propose the possibility of obtaining syngas from very different and complex organic wastes, such as municipal solid wastes, agricultural residues or sewage sludge, through microwave-induced and conventional pyrolysis at 400 and 800 °C. Microwave heating has proved to be an appropriate way to produce a syngas with CO + H2 concentrations as high as 90 vol% and in large yields (up to 0.83 L g−1waste). In addition, the potential of the syngas produced by this technology as fermentation substrate for the production of bioplastics is discussed. Microwave pyrolysis seems to serve as a novel route into biorefineries to produce valuable biobased products.