To mitigate global warming and achieve carbon neutrality, biomass has become a widely used carbon-neutral energy source due to its low cost and easy availability. However, the incomplete combustion of biomass can produce polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are harmful to human health. Moreover, increasing numbers of wildfires in many regions caused by global warming have greatly increased the emissions of PAHs from biomass burning. To effectively mitigate PAH pollution and health risks associated with biomass usage, the concentrations, compositions and influencing factors of PAH emissions from biomass burning are summarized in this review. High PAH emissions from open burning and stove burning are found, and two- to four-ring PAHs account for a higher proportion than five- and six-ring PAHs. Based on the mechanism of biomass burning, biomass with higher volatile matter, cellulose, lignin, potassium salts and moisture produces more PAHs. Moreover, burning biomass in stoves at a high temperature or with an insufficient oxygen supply can increase PAH emissions. Therefore, the formation and emission of PAHs can be reduced by pelletizing, briquetting or carbonizing biomass to increase its density and burning efficiency. This review contributes to a comprehensive understanding of PAH pollution from biomass burning, providing prospective insight for preventing air pollution and health hazards associated with carbon neutrality.
Keywords: biomass composition; burning conditions; emission characteristic; formation mechanism; stove design.