Integrated Solar Drying and Pyrolysis Process

• In urban areas, along with Municipal Solid waste, a considerable amount of fibrous waste, such as banana peduncle, tender coconut, sugarcane bagasse, etc., is generated, which needs special treatment for disposal. These wastes are generated in bulk quantities in vegetable markets, shops, shopping malls, etc. Hence, a combined technology of solar drying and pyrolysis has been demonstrated at the pilot level for the treatment of these wastes with the recovery of biochar and thermal energy.
• Similarly, the sewage sludge generated in large quantities in Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) could be solar-dried and pyrolyzed with this high-calorific fibrous waste to address the objectives of the SDGs and National missions.

• Operation of this process technology requires less energy, as the solar dryer uses solar energy. In the case of pyrolysis, the calorific value of waste is used to maintain the temperature.
• Energy is required only for pre-treatment of wastes (shredding, mechanical dewatering, mixing and conveying system), tilling in the solar dryer and conveying system and blower in the pyrolysis unit.

• Biochar production using Solar dryer and Pyrolysis results in the reduction of carbon emission to the atmosphere and has many advantages such as zero waste residue, the potential use of biochar as soil conditioner and fertilizer etc.
• Thermal energy generated in pyrolysis process can be harvested in the form of hot water and could be used for floor heating of solar dryer or any other suitable heating applications.