Biocides through pyrolytic degradation of biomass: potential, recent advancements and future prospects

Abstract

Sustainable agriculture employs efficient management of environmental bio-resources which can be used satisfy anthropogenic needs while maintaining conserving natural resources at the same time. However, sustainable agriculture also focuses at lowering the pest incidence without disturbing nature's balance. Pyrolysis process is one of the methods chosen in order to strive for bio-pesticide formation. Pyrolysis is an eco-sustainable technique in the energy conversion of biomass to produce bio-oil, biochar and syngas. Slow pyrolysis was often selected as it lowers down heating rates and longer retention time enhances vapors formation from complete secondary reactions forming wood vinegar and biochar. Hardwood or softwood vinegar is an aqueous liquid mixture of organic acids and compounds such as acetic acid, methanol, furfural, phenol, acetaldehyde, furan, formic, propionic and butyric acid, and other volatile organics. Various researchers suggest that this aliquot can be used as an organic biocide as it had not showed any detrimental effects to the environment. This article reviews the potential of various biomass pyrolysis for liquid smoke production along with future prospects. © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.