pyrolysis

noun

1. (countable, physical, uncountable)The decomposition of a material or compound due to heat, in the absence of oxygen or other reagents.

   “Techniques that have successfully identified ionic intermediates in solution have been applied to gas-phase pyrolyses.”

   “Twenty years ago our real understanding of the mechanism of alkane pyrolyses was little better than rudimentary.”

   “Pyrolysis involves the thermal degradation of the rubber of the tyre to give an oil and gas leaving a residual solid carbon and the steel casing of the tyre.”

   “Traditional pyrolysis of wood relies on low temperatures and long processing time to increase the charcoal yield. In contrast, modern or fast pyrolysis uses moderate temperatures (400-500°C) and very short residence times (typically only a few seconds) to maximize the production of liquids (Diebold and Bridgewater, 1997).”