Working with the University

University | A to Z | Departments

• 
• » Working with the University
• » Licensing
• » Microwave assisted pyrolysis

• Working with the University home
• Contracting research
• Funding collaborative research
• Consultancy
• Licensing
• Commercial facilities and services
• Professional development and training
• Employing and working with students
• Current projects
• Case studies
• Partnerships
• York Business Week
• Contact and visit us
• Meet the team

• return to the full list of licensing opportunities

Microwave Assisted Pyrolysis

The Green Chemistry Centre of Excellence promotes the application of green and sustainable technologies, particularly those that can be used to deliver products that meet consumer and legislation requirements. They have been involved for a number of years in research on the effects of microwave radiation on chemical compounds. This has given us new insight and understanding on how microwaves can accelerate chemical reactions.

Microwaves can be used to selectively activate components (cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin) of different types of biomass (trees, grasses, crops, seaweeds etc.) leading to a much more controlled lower temperature decomposition process than can normally be achieved. In this way, a range of valuable products can be created including liquid and solid fuels, and chemicals from sustainable sources of carbon using green chemical technology. This is proven at scales from grams to tens of kilograms.

Benefits

Microwave technology for heating has been shown to be more energy efficient than conventional methods in many applications. Microwave irradiation is rapid and volumetric with the whole material heated simultaneously. In contrast, conventional heating is slow and the heat is introduced into the sample from the surface. This feature of microwaves is very important for processing poor thermal conducting materials such as wood.

Microwave heating can be controlled instantly and the power applied can be accurately regulated. This allows safe and precise control, even when applying very rapid heating rates. Microwaves also promote novel reaction pathways and can greatly accelerate reaction rates as a result of specific interactions.

Applications

The use of microwaves for the conversion of biomass to valuable products offers a number of very important advantages:

• Temperature of microwave pyrolysis is significantly lower than conventional one
• Flexible processing enabling the production of bio-oil, solid fuels and chemical products
• In situ separation of aqueous and organic fractions of bio-oil
• Mobile processors that can be located next to large concentrations of biomass (e.g. farms)
• Reduced CO2 burden and low product carbon footprints
• Rapid, continuous processing and high energy efficiency.
  

Investment readiness status

Industrial partnerships sought, particularly from the process industries

IP status

Patent filed