Pyrolysis Oil - Thermochemical Conversion by Pyrolysis

Pyrolysis – or liquification of biomass – converts solid biomass into a liquid fuel. Gases and solids are generated as a byproduct only and are partly used to fuel the conversion process and drying of the feedstock.

Most pyrolysis technologies generate two or more liquid biofuels of different viscosity that can be physically separated and are usually refined further before use in applications such as boilers, turbines, or combustion engines. The energy content of these liquids are roughly half of the calorific value of diesel.

A key advantage of pyrolysis is that a rather crude, bulky feedstock ‘biomass’ is converted into a higher value, dense energy product that is easily transportable.

The concept of pyrolsis has historically been used by utilities for the gasification of coal and until to date in the (petro-)chemical industry; only recently has the technology been expanded to recover carbon contained in waste material, including municipal solid waste.