A Review of Various Feedstocks Utilized in Thermochemical Processes

Energy security and technological advancements contribute immensely to the development of any country. The discovery of fossil fuels has in the past decades proven to be a dependable resource for many industries, such as the transportation industry, chemicals industry, energy sector, and more. However, their fast depletion and contribution to the emission of hazardous greenhouse gases (GHG) and climate change have driven the demand for alternative and clean sustainable energy resources. This work identifies some of the physiochemical properties of various waste materials (waste tyres, biomass, plastics, and food waste) and their potential for use in various industrial sectors. The literature data shows that pyrolysis, gasification, and liquefaction (PGL) pathways through the use of different waste feedstocks can produce high-end valuable gas, liquid, and solid end-products. Also, the waste materials have comparable calorific values (CV), as a result, they can be a fuel source for various industrial applications. Lastly, the co-conversion of the different waste feedstocks influences the CV, conversion rates, product quality, and reduces energy requirements.