Biomass components, primarily plant materials and animal waste used as a source of energy, have a strong connection with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Biomass energy contributes to SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) by offering a renewable alternative to fossil fuels. Furthermore, the utilization of agricultural, forestry, and livestock waste in biomass energy production can aid in achieving SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) by promoting resource efficiency and waste reduction. It's also relevant to SDG 13 (Climate Action), as when sustainably managed, biomass can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, it's crucial to ensure that biomass use doesn't adversely impact food security (SDG 2) or biodiversity (SDGs 14 and 15) to maintain a balanced approach to sustainability.
The pyrolysis-catalytic steam reforming of six agricultural biomass waste samples as well as the three main components of biomass was investigated in a two stage fixed bed reactor. Pyrolysis of the biomass took place in the first stage followed by catalytic steam reforming of the evolved pyrolysis gases in the second stage catalytic reactor. The waste biomass samples were, rice husk, coconut shell, sugarcane bagasse, palm kernel shell, cotton stalk and wheat straw and the biomass components were, cellulose, hemicellulose (xylan) and lignin.
Pyrolysis converts biomass into liquid, gaseous and solid fuels. This work reviews the existing models for biomass pyrolysis, including kinetic, network and mechanistic models. The kinetic models are based on the global reaction mechanisms and have been extensively used for a wide range of biomass under various operating conditions. Major emphases have been on the network models as these models predict the structural changes during biomass pyrolysis. Key aspects of various network models include reaction schemes, structural characteristics and applications to CFD simulations.
Soil health is the capacity of soil to function as a vital living system, within ecosystem and land-use boundaries, to sustain plant and animal productivity, maintain or enhance water and air quality, and promote plant and animal health. Anthropogenic reductions in soil health, and of individual components of soil quality, are a pressing ecological concern.
