1. to subject (a substance) to pyrolysis; to decompose by heating in the absence of oxygen
Usage: technical; chemistry

Examples

• The laboratory pyrolyzes organic compounds to study their thermal decomposition.
• When the plastic pyrolyzes at high temperature, it breaks down into smaller molecules.
• Industrial processes pyrolyze biomass to produce biofuels and chemicals.
• The furnace pyrolyzes waste materials without releasing harmful oxygen-dependent emissions.
• Researchers pyrolyze coal samples to understand their composition and energy content.