What is the Difference Between Pyrolysis and Gasification?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚Pyrolysis and gasification are both thermal processes used to convert carbonaceous substances into various products, but they differ in terms of their oxygen supply, temperature, and product composition. Here are the main differences between the two processes:
- Oxygen supply: Pyrolysis is performed in the absence of oxygen, while gasification requires a reduction of oxygen.
- Temperature: Pyrolysis typically occurs at lower temperatures (around 400°C or more), while gasification requires higher temperatures (above 800°C) and moderate pressure.
- Product composition: In pyrolysis, the products include char, tar, and gas, while gasification transforms carbon-containing products (e.g., the products from pyrolysis) into a primarily gaseous product called syngas.
- Energy efficiency: Generally, gasification has a higher energy efficiency than pyrolysis, as it produces more syngas and less biochar and bio-oil, which have lower energy densities.
- Applications: Pyrolysis is useful for applications such as caramelization, production of fuel from biomass, production of ethylene, and treating plastic waste. Gasification, on the other hand, is useful for heat production, production of electricity, and other energy-related applications.
In summary, while both pyrolysis and gasification are thermal processes for converting carbonaceous substances, they differ in terms of oxygen supply, temperature, product composition, energy efficiency, and applications.
On this pageWhat is the Difference Between Pyrolysis and Gasification? Comparative Table: Pyrolysis vs Gasification
Comparative Table: Pyrolysis vs Gasification
Here is a table summarizing the differences between pyrolysis and gasification:
Feature | Pyrolysis | Gasification |
---|---|---|
Process | Thermal conversion of organic matter in the absence of oxygen | Thermo-chemical process that converts biomass into a combustible gas |
Products | Char, tar, and gas | Primarily gaseous product |
Temperature | Higher temperatures produce more gas, lower temperatures produce more liquid | Lower heating value of the gas may result |
Heating Rate | Slow heating rates combined with relatively low final temperatures increase char generation | - |
Applications | Food manufacturing (e.g., caramelization), production of fuel from biomass, production of ethylene, treatment of plastic waste | Heat production, production of electricity |
Oxygen Involvement | Done in the absence of oxygen | Oxygen is involved in the process |
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- Combustion vs Pyrolysis
- Incineration vs Pyrolysis
- Calcination vs Pyrolysis
- Pyrolysis Carbonization vs Torrefaction
- Coal Carbonization vs Gasification
- Combustion vs Incineration
- Decomposition vs Combustion
- Combustion vs Burning
- Biogas vs Natural Gas
- Thermochemical vs Biochemical Conversion of Biomass
- Biogas vs Biomethane
- Biomass vs Biofuel
- Carbonization vs Graphitization
- Oxidation vs Combustion
- Respiration vs Combustion
- Hydrometallurgy vs Pyrometallurgy
- Biochar vs Charcoal
- Fuel vs Gas
- Hydrogenation vs Hydrogenolysis