Pyrolysis is a thermal process that uses high temperatures to break down waste. The technology, although it uses less oxygen than tradition mass-burn incineration process, is still regarded as an incineration process obliged to follow the mandatory emission laws. Companies such as QinetiQ provides pyrolysis equipment for ships, and the machinery is used for disposal of wastes such as, plastics, cardboard, paper, metal cans and wood. Pyrolysis technique of waste disposal has also been successfully tested over the years for a variety of biomass, ranging from agricultural wastes such as straw, olive pits, and nut shells to energy cropssuch as sorghum. During recent years, the technology has also been integrated in waste management plans of forests for wastes such as bark and thinningand solids includingsewage sludge and leather wastes.

The pyrolysis technique relies on breaking down wastes into gas, liquid and solid residues. These residues are then combusted in a secondary process. The thermal degradation takes place in the absence of air. The main product of pyrolysis is syngas, which has a high calorific value and can be used as a fuel in steam or electricity generation, or as a chemical in petroleum and refining industries. Generally, the process is divided into four stages, starting from removal of recyclables and materials (in case of municipal waste) with no calorific value, by passing it through a recycling facility and subsequently homogenizing the feedstock. The waste in then heated in a low-oxygen atmosphere to produce gas, oils and ash. This gas is scrubbed for removal of hydrocarbons and soluble particulates. The scrubbed gas could later be used in a steam turbine for generating heat or electricity.

Pyrolysis process as a waste management technique has significant advantages over other contemporary techniques. The primary benefit of using pyrolysis is the low oxygen requirement, which also results in fewer air emissions. Secondly, pyrolysis plants are quicker to build and can be operated at a small scale. The small units comprising the plant are easily removed or included as waste streams during recycling, thereby increasing the flexibility in operation. Unlike other standard waste disposal techniques, the residues produced have additional uses. The gas and oil residues produced in pyrolysis can be used as fuels or as chemicals in petroleum refining industries. The syngas produced can be utilized in generating energy more efficiently than other standard techniques. This energy can further be used as an additional income source. Read about Scotland Waste management Assignment.

Due to strict marine laws for waste disposal, off-loading of waste into the sea has always been a problem. Because of space limitations and inherent health risks, on-board storage is also not an option. Therefore, there is a need of an efficient and clean process for reducing ship waste. Pyrolysis technique has always had industrial applications in chemical, metallurgical and plastic waste management. Until now, it has not been applied to municipal wastes.

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