A review on microwave-assisted co-pyrolysis of biomass-polymers

Microwave technology has been extensively used as a heat source in co-pyrolysis processes. It provides several advantages such as fast and selective heating process, efficient use of energy, ability to increase quantity and quality of products, and controlling the development of hazardous produces and emissions so that it is considered environmentally-friendly. The use of biomass and polymers mixtures in microwave co-pyrolysis is expected to increase the number of products in the liquid phase because of the synergistic effect between gas products from biomass pyrolysis and hydrogen (as polymer pyrolysis products) which will encourage further formation of co-pyrolysis products. This review aims to increase the understanding of microwave used in the process of biomass and polymer co-pyrolysis. It also summarizes the direction of future researches to make the microwave energy more properly in the process of polymers and biomass mixture co-pyrolysis. The process optimization is to obtain liquid phase co-pyrolysis products especially bio-oil generated from pyrolysis that can be processed using the thermal cracking method in order to obtain bio-diesel products. © 2020 Praise Worthy Prize S.r.l.-All rights reserved.