Pyrolysis of Pinus roxburghii: process optimization, product characterization and scale-up potential

The growing accumulation of Pinus roxburghii needles in the Indian Himalayan region presents both a significant fire hazard and an underutilized biomass resource. This study investigates the conversion of pine needles into bio-oil and biochar through bench-scale pyrolysis, with process optimization using Response Surface Methodology (RSM). In contrast to previous studies largely limited to laboratory-scale investigations, this work demonstrates the scale-up potential of pine needle pyrolysis and provides data relevant to its practical deployment. Product characterization confirmed the successful conversion of pine needles into value-added products, with biochar exhibiting enhanced carbon-rich properties and bio-oil containing diverse organic compounds. The findings not only validate RSM as a robust optimization tool for scale-up but also highlight the potential of pine needle pyrolysis products for renewable energy, carbon sequestration and environmental applications. By converting a fire-prone forest residue into valuable bioenergy products, this study contributes to sustainable biomass valorization and forest fire risk mitigation.