what is pyrolysis process

Pyrolysis is a thermochemical process that involves the thermal decomposition of organic materials at elevated temperatures, usually in the absence of oxygen. The process leads to the formation of new molecules, and the products obtained include solids (char), condensable liquids (light and heavy oils and tar), and non-condensable gases. Pyrolysis can be applied to any organic product, and it can be done on pure products as well as mixtures. The process can be used to convert biomass to an intermediate liquid product that can be refined to drop-in hydrocarbon biofuels, oxygenated fuel additives, and petrochemical replacements. Pyrolysis is different from other processes like combustion and hydrolysis in that it usually does not involve the addition of other reagents such as oxygen or water. Pyrolysis has numerous applications in green technology, including extracting materials from goods such as vehicles, treating organic materials that "crack" or decompose under the presence of heat, and rendering inorganic materials inert.