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.