Thermochemical Technologies for the Optimization of Olive Wood Biomass Energy Exploitation: A Review

The use of biomass can be a strategic way to realize carbon-neutral energy plan, ensuring fuel feedstock. Residual arising from pruning is demonstrated an important resource in terms quantity and quality. In the Salento peninsula, Apulia Region, south Italy, dramatic outbreak Xylella fastidiosa has decimated olive trees since 2013, gaining considerable amount wood biomass. This paper, starting need find optimize this available stock, reviews main technologies on utilization for purposes. particular, processes products are here described, analysis compares lower heating value (LHV), higher (HHV), mass yield, process operating conditions, generated spent by order most effective technology conclusions show advantages disadvantages each technology. Pyrolysis performs well, showing best results both char HHV syngas yield under different conditions. Gasification seems appropriate among conversion tree purposes, as it used produce electrical thermal energy. economic valorization, promising material representing value-added product, quality versatility which ranges soil improvers additives construction supercapacitors. Conversely, its mainly represented high ash content, slightly decrease boiler efficiency. Finally, alkali metals several problems, such fouling, slagging, corrosion, etc., posing challenge combustion control pollutant minimization.