An integrated framework of data-driven, metaheuristic, and mechanistic modeling approach for biomass pyrolysis

This study presents an integrated hybrid framework of data-driven (cascade forward neural network (CFNN)), metaheuristic (artificial bee colony (ABC)), and a mechanistic modeling (Aspen simulation) approach for the biomass pyrolysis process for bio-oil production. We applied CFNN and an ABC to predict and optimize bio-oil yield. The CFNN model achieved high prediction performance with a correlation coefficient value of 0.95 and a root mean squared error value of 0.39. Furthermore, the CFNN-ABC derived optimum parameters were then validated using a mechanistic model of the pyrolysis process. The CFNN and Aspen simulation results were following the experimental results, with an average deviation of 5%. The feature importance showed that the internal information about biomass was more relevant than external factors for bio-oil yield. The partial dependence plots were developed to know the insights into the biomass pyrolysis process. This study presents a modeling and simulation platform for bio-oil production that can increase the waste-to-energy process and can be helpful for academia.