Pyrolysis technologies for valorisation of healthcare waste: A review on processes, products, and challenges

Abstract

Incineration remains a common method for healthcare waste disposal; however, concerns related to air pollutant emissions, limited resource recovery, and compatibility with circular economy goals have driven interest in alternative treatment technologies. Among thermochemical options, pyrolysis offers advantages over incineration by operating under oxygen-limited conditions, enabling conversion of waste into value-added products while potentially reducing the formation of regulated air pollutants. This review examines the state of pyrolytic valorization of healthcare waste and its potential role within sustainable waste management systems and circular economy. A brief bibliometric assessment indicates that although pyrolysis research has traditionally focused on biomass and municipal solid waste, studies addressing healthcare waste have increased steadily in recent years. Different categories of healthcare-related wastes, including hospital residues and medical plastics, are reviewed alongside applicable pyrolysis reactor technologies. The properties and potential uses of resulting products, including syngas, liquid fuels, waxes, and chemical feedstocks, are discussed in relation to environmental performance and resource recovery. Key challenges, such as feedstock heterogeneity, contaminant management, regulatory constraints, and process optimization, are identified. Overall, pyrolysis is presented as a complementary technology that can support circular economy objectives in healthcare waste management.Implications: Incineration remains widely used for healthcare waste disposal, but concerns regarding emissions, limited resource recovery, and circular economy compatibility have increased interest in pyrolysis. This review evaluates pyrolytic valorization of healthcare waste as a sustainable complementary technology to incineration. Different healthcare waste streams, reactor technologies, operating conditions, and resulting products, including syngas, liquid fuels, waxes, and chemical feedstocks, are discussed. Key challenges such as feedstock heterogeneity, contaminant management, regulatory limitations, and process optimization are highlighted. Essentially, pyrolysis demonstrates significant potential for resource recovery and sustainable healthcare waste management within circular economy frameworks.