Optimizing Pyrolysis Technology Selection Using the Weighted Product Method (WPM)

Pyrolysis is a process that turns waste into energy, and its efficiency depends on the content and processing of the biomass materials used. This work assesses the appropriateness of five biomass materials for pyrolysis using the Weighted Product Model (WPM): sunflower shell, hardwood, wheat straw, sugarcane bagasse, and maize cob. Each material was assessed based on four criteria: cellulose, hemicellulose, volatile matter, and moisture content, with equal weight assigned to each parameter to ensure a balanced evaluation. Corn cob emerged as the most suitable biomass for pyrolysis, achieving the highest preference score of 0.95139 due to its optimal combination of high cellulose and hemicellulose content along with relatively low moisture levels. This composition contributes to its superior performance in energy yield and process efficiency. Sugarcane bagasse followed, with a preference score of 0.83166, demonstrating strong potential due to its low moisture content and favorable processing characteristics. Sunflower shell ranked third with a score of 0.82794, reflecting its balanced composition but slightly lower efficiency compared to corn cob and sugarcane bagasse. Hardwood and wheat straw, while viable, were ranked lower, with scores of 0.74932 and 0.74314, respectively. Their higher moisture content and lower energy-dense components impact their efficiency and make them less suitable compared to the top-ranked materials. The study highlights the effectiveness of the WPM methodology in providing a structured approach to compare and select biomass materials for pyrolysis, emphasizing the importance of balanced performance across multiple criteria. Overall, the findings underscore the potential of corn cob as the ideal choice for pyrolysis applications, followed by sugarcane bagasse and sunflower shell, with hardwood and wheat straw being less favorable. This evaluation offers valuable insights for optimizing biomass selection in pyrolysis processes, contributing to more efficient waste-to-energy conversion.