Boreskov Institute of Catalysis SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia

PL-4PROGRESS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF BIOMASS FASTPYROLYSIS TECHNOLOGY AND ITS APPLICATIONSWolter PrinsUniversity of Ghent, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Coupure Links 653,B-9000 Gent, Belgium, Wolter.Prins@UGent.beThermochemical conversion of biomass is referring to processes in which thebiomass is decomposed at high temperatures to produce char and vapors that caneither be:− burnt completely and simultaneously, to produce heat: combustionT> 800 °C;− burnt partially, to produce a combustible or synthesis gas: gasificationT1250 °C;− or separated as bio-char and/or bio-oil (condensed vapors): pyrolysisT> 300 °C.Fast pyrolysis of biomass is the process of thermal decomposition in absence ofoxygen, at about 500 °C and at atmospheric conditions, with the aim to produce ahigh quantity of liquid product (bio-oil) that can be easily stored, transported andfurther processed. The technology has developed to a level of large scaledemonstration and could be commercialized within the next five years. Potentialapplications of bio oil are manifold but, apart from direct combustion or cocombustion,up to now insufficiently developed. There are however a number ofdrivers that create an increasing interest in the technology.One of the reasons that food/ feed industries, refinery companies and catalystcompanies show a distinct interest these days, is the need for second generationbiofuels. Fast pyrolysis is, to a large extent, a non-selective biomass conversiontechnique that accepts a wide variety of lignocellulosic feedstock materials such asforestry, agricultural or plantation residues, and industrial waste streams from e.g.food/feed, bio-ethanol or bio-diesel production. Moreover, this fairly simpleliquefaction technique offers significant logistic advantages, allowing shipping tocentral sites (refineries, chemical plants, power stations) for large scale conversion tofinal products. In fact, fast pyrolysis has the potential to become a key process invarious biorefinery concepts.8