Catalytic pyrolysis has been an area of research aimed at developing viable methods to improve the quality of products compared to normal pyrolysis. The role of the catalyst is two-fold. Firstly, it lowers the temperature of the pyrolysis process and unstable hydrocarbons combine to form increased amounts of oil. Secondly, the catalyst adds a ‘cracking’ effect which deoxygenates the pyrolysis products by accelerating carbon dioxide and, more hopefully, hydrogen production.94,95 In this way, catalytic pyrolysis produces more hydrocarbon-like oil with lower tar and viscous content. Before detailing some of the current work in the area of catalytic pyrolysis, it is worthwhile reviewing very briefly the fundamentals of catalysis so that the challenges faced by this particular technology can be properly assessed.