Development of Cost Effective, Small Scale Transportable Fast Pyrolysis Plants

The combination of declining petroleum resources with an increased demand for petroleum by emerging economies, as well as political and environmental concerns about fossil fuels, are causing our society to search for new sources of liquid fuels. The only current sustainable source of carbon is plant biomass, and biofuels (fuels derived from plant biomass) are the only current sustainable source of liquid fuels. Technologies are needed to cost-effectively convert plant biomass to liquid fuels for transportation applications. One of the most promising methods for converting biomass into liquid fuels at a small scale is fast pyrolysis ¿ a process whereby biomass is rapidly converted into a liquid biocrude that can be used for fuel oil or upgraded into gasoline and diesel fuels. This project will develop a simplified fast-pyrolysis process that will enable a system of distributed plants to cost effectively produce bio-oils that can be transported to refineries for bio-oil upgrading. Commercial Applications and other Benefits as described by the awardee: The technology should increase U.S. energy security by producing diesel fuel, gasoline, and ethanol from abundant domestically sustainable biomass resources, thereby reducing our dependence on oil. The technology should be suitable for processing woody materials, grasses, agricultural crops, forestry residues, animal manures, and various organic wastes into valuable fuels and chemicals.