Microwave-assisted pyrolysis in biomass and waste valorisation: Insights into the life-cycle assessment (LCA) and techno-economic analysis (TEA)

Microwave-assisted pyrolysis (MAP) has been perceived as a promising technology for biomass and waste conversion due to its distinctive features, including fast, even, and precise heating. This results in higher energy efficiency when compared to conventional pyrolysis via thermal heating. However,...

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Main Authors: Foong, Shin Ying, Chan, Yi Herng, Yek, Peter Nai Yuh, Lock, Serene Sow Mun, Chin, Bridgid, Yiin, Chung Loong, Lan, John Chi-Wei, Lam, Su Shiung
Format: Journal Article
Published: 2024
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/94982
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author Foong, Shin Ying
Chan, Yi Herng
Yek, Peter Nai Yuh
Lock, Serene Sow Mun
Chin, Bridgid
Yiin, Chung Loong
Lan, John Chi-Wei
Lam, Su Shiung
author_facet Foong, Shin Ying
Chan, Yi Herng
Yek, Peter Nai Yuh
Lock, Serene Sow Mun
Chin, Bridgid
Yiin, Chung Loong
Lan, John Chi-Wei
Lam, Su Shiung
author_sort Foong, Shin Ying
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Microwave-assisted pyrolysis (MAP) has been perceived as a promising technology for biomass and waste conversion due to its distinctive features, including fast, even, and precise heating. This results in higher energy efficiency when compared to conventional pyrolysis via thermal heating. However, the scaling up of MAP of biomass and waste poses challenges, with investigations ongoing to uncover not only the technological aspect, but also both the environmental impacts and economic feasibility associated with this process/technology. The possible environmental impacts associated with MAP processes can be analyzed through systematic life-cycle assessment (LCA), while the economic feasibility can be evaluated via techno-economic analysis (TEA). This paper presents an overview of the current research trend in MAP and the products produced, as well as the LCA and TEA of the pyrolysis technologies. The LCA study reported a 2.5 folds reduction in energy consumption and up to 62% reduction in global warming potential. TEA study revealed that conventional pyrolysis has a greater profit for long-term assessment due to a higher maturity and less complexity technology; however, MAP may be more economically feasible in the future owing to the increased maturity and more established technology. Finally, the challenges and future perspectives for LCA and TEA in MAP are elucidated.
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institution Curtin University Malaysia
institution_category Local University
last_indexed 2025-11-14T11:43:26Z
publishDate 2024
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-949822024-09-26T04:16:12Z Microwave-assisted pyrolysis in biomass and waste valorisation: Insights into the life-cycle assessment (LCA) and techno-economic analysis (TEA) Foong, Shin Ying Chan, Yi Herng Yek, Peter Nai Yuh Lock, Serene Sow Mun Chin, Bridgid Yiin, Chung Loong Lan, John Chi-Wei Lam, Su Shiung Microwave-assisted pyrolysis (MAP) has been perceived as a promising technology for biomass and waste conversion due to its distinctive features, including fast, even, and precise heating. This results in higher energy efficiency when compared to conventional pyrolysis via thermal heating. However, the scaling up of MAP of biomass and waste poses challenges, with investigations ongoing to uncover not only the technological aspect, but also both the environmental impacts and economic feasibility associated with this process/technology. The possible environmental impacts associated with MAP processes can be analyzed through systematic life-cycle assessment (LCA), while the economic feasibility can be evaluated via techno-economic analysis (TEA). This paper presents an overview of the current research trend in MAP and the products produced, as well as the LCA and TEA of the pyrolysis technologies. The LCA study reported a 2.5 folds reduction in energy consumption and up to 62% reduction in global warming potential. TEA study revealed that conventional pyrolysis has a greater profit for long-term assessment due to a higher maturity and less complexity technology; however, MAP may be more economically feasible in the future owing to the increased maturity and more established technology. Finally, the challenges and future perspectives for LCA and TEA in MAP are elucidated. 2024 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/94982 10.1016/j.cej.2024.151942 restricted
spellingShingle Foong, Shin Ying
Chan, Yi Herng
Yek, Peter Nai Yuh
Lock, Serene Sow Mun
Chin, Bridgid
Yiin, Chung Loong
Lan, John Chi-Wei
Lam, Su Shiung
Microwave-assisted pyrolysis in biomass and waste valorisation: Insights into the life-cycle assessment (LCA) and techno-economic analysis (TEA)
title Microwave-assisted pyrolysis in biomass and waste valorisation: Insights into the life-cycle assessment (LCA) and techno-economic analysis (TEA)
title_full Microwave-assisted pyrolysis in biomass and waste valorisation: Insights into the life-cycle assessment (LCA) and techno-economic analysis (TEA)
title_fullStr Microwave-assisted pyrolysis in biomass and waste valorisation: Insights into the life-cycle assessment (LCA) and techno-economic analysis (TEA)
title_full_unstemmed Microwave-assisted pyrolysis in biomass and waste valorisation: Insights into the life-cycle assessment (LCA) and techno-economic analysis (TEA)
title_short Microwave-assisted pyrolysis in biomass and waste valorisation: Insights into the life-cycle assessment (LCA) and techno-economic analysis (TEA)
title_sort microwave-assisted pyrolysis in biomass and waste valorisation: insights into the life-cycle assessment (lca) and techno-economic analysis (tea)
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/94982