Advanced Thermal Treatment of Wastes for Fuels, Chemicals and Materials Recovery

The advanced thermal technologies of pyrolysis and gasification, provide important economic and environmental options to convert waste materials into useful and high-value materials, fuels and chemicals. In this chapter, pyrolysis is described in terms of the production of oils, char and gas, with examples of various reaction systems. Gasification is also reviewed in terms of example process systems, influences of gasification temperature and the presence of catalysts. Commercial examples of both technologies are also described.