A review on microwave assisted pyrolysis of coal and biomass for fuel production

The energy insecurity from oil and natural gas and increased CO2 emission from fossil fuels is driving societies to look for sustainable and renewable energy supply. The huge coal resources can serve as a potential source for fuels. Bio-energy from biomass has been recognized as renewable energy to reduce CO2 emission. Although fast pyrolysis has emerged as the most promising technology to convert organic materials to liquid fuels at shorter duration but it still faces some technical challenges in improving product yield, its quality and process energy efficiency. Microwave assisted pyrolysis of coal and biomass in the presence of microwave absorber provides distinctive environment to resolve these challenges. The microwave absorber can indirectly heat coal and biomass particles which are relatively microwave transparent and influence product yield and its quality by contributing as a catalytic precursor. The microwave heating of coal or biomass particles with microwave absorber shows efficient heating and sufficient contact of volatile or gas phase species with specific microwave absorber can improve fuel quality.