Effects of Chemical Composition and Pyrolysis Process Variables on Biochar Yields: Correlation and Principal Component Analysis

Abstract Based on a systematic review, 19 case studies were selected, focusing on the production of biochar through pyrolysis of five lignocellulosic biomasses (olive husk, beech wood, corncob, spruce wood, and hazelnut shell), under constant pressure (0.1 MPa) and temperature from 650.2 to 973.0 K. Interactions between process variables (temperature, residence time of the vapor phase and heating rate), biomass chemical composition variables (lignin, holocellulose, ash, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and hydrogen content) and biochar yield-CY were evaluated by Pearson’s correlation matrix and Principal Component Analysis-PCA. Strong correlations (|r| ≥0.75, p