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On the Exploitation of Lignin Slow Pyrolysis Products

Author

Listed:
  • Guido Busca

    (Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile, Chimica e Ambientale, Università di Genova, via Opera Pia 15, 16145 Genova, Italy)

  • Elena Spennati

    (Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile, Chimica e Ambientale, Università di Genova, via Opera Pia 15, 16145 Genova, Italy)

  • Matteo Borella

    (Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile, Chimica e Ambientale, Università di Genova, via Opera Pia 15, 16145 Genova, Italy)

  • Alessandro A. Casazza

    (Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile, Chimica e Ambientale, Università di Genova, via Opera Pia 15, 16145 Genova, Italy)

  • Gabriella Garbarino

    (Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile, Chimica e Ambientale, Università di Genova, via Opera Pia 15, 16145 Genova, Italy)

Abstract

The potential of technical lignins as secondary raw materials is discussed. The characteristics of lignin pyrolysis, with particular emphasis on slow pyrolysis technologies, are briefly summarized. The slow pyrolysis process, which can be self-sustained by burning the coproduced gas, can primarily produce high-quality biochar in significant amounts, to be used as a fuel, as a reductant in metallurgy, and as an adsorbent and catalyst component. Together, significant amounts of bio-oil can be produced, rich in guaiacols, which are commercial and expensive chemicals produced today via petrochemical routes and used in pharmacology, food chemistry, polymer chemistry, etc. Such compounds, or bio-oil itself, can also be converted by hydrodeoxygenation into biofuels. A possible simplified flowsheet for a lignin slow pyrolysis process in the frame of a ligneocellulosics-based biorefinery is proposed.

Suggested Citation

  • Guido Busca & Elena Spennati & Matteo Borella & Alessandro A. Casazza & Gabriella Garbarino, 2025. "On the Exploitation of Lignin Slow Pyrolysis Products," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-17, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2025:i:4:p:943-:d:1592398
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Mika Pahnila & Aki Koskela & Petri Sulasalmi & Timo Fabritius, 2023. "A Review of Pyrolysis Technologies and the Effect of Process Parameters on Biocarbon Properties," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(19), pages 1-27, October.
    2. Guido Busca, 2024. "Critical Aspects of Energetic Transition Technologies and the Roles of Materials Chemistry and Engineering," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-32, July.
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