In a paper published in the journal Science of the Total Environment, resaerchers produced a detailed breakdown of how a process called pyrolysis could turn biomass waste like rice straw, manure and wood into a solution for three common problems at once.
Pyrolysis is a kind of chemical recycling that turns leftover organic materials into their component molecules. It works by sealing the waste inside an oxygen-free chamber and heating it to more than 400 degrees Celsius, producing useful chemicals in the process.
In the paper, the researchers from the University of Glasgow in the UK outlined how three products of pyrolysis — bio-oil, syngas and biochar fertiliser could help villagers live healthier and greener lives with more productive farmland.
The research also lays out a series of recommendations for maximising the system’s economic viability.
The project began with a survey of nearly 1,200 rural households across Odisha, investigating their experiences of cooking, powering their homes, and farming.
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