Biomass to liquid (BTL) to fuels

Abstract

We introduce a strategy for biomass fractionation and refinery co-processing. Some of the leading conversion technologies are reviewed, including pretreatment-hydrolysis (for 2nd-generation biofuels), gasification and Fischer–Tropsch (FT) synthesis, pyrolysis, and aqueous phase reforming (APR), along with some of the current challenges for commercialization. The main objective is to give an overview and recommendations in regard to the co-processing of biomass oil with crude oil that includes some of the developed technologies, as well as providing a new theoretical approach to the co-utilization of these raw materials. This new approach utilizes biomass to undergo 2nd-generation conversion processes where it is fractionated into relatively pure streams of soluble cellulosic/hemicellulosic sugars and residual solid lignin (non-sugar) fractions. The cellulose/lignin fractionation would also facilitate the development of new-generation characterization schemes to reduce interference between sugar and non-sugar components. Upgrading and reforming techniques such as gasification and Fischer–Tropsch (FT) synthesis, pyrolysis, or aqueous phase reforming (APR) can then be adopted for use with these fractions to generate feedstocks such as bio-oils that resemble those used within a petroleum refinery. If treated properly these biomass-derived oils have been shown to resemble crude-derived oil feeds and when supplemented in large quantities to process feeds can produce equivalent fuels and chemicals to that of petroleum crude oil. Consequently, dependence on fossil fuels will be reduced, among other advantages such as a reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emission, while still utilizing in-place technologies and with lower capital investments compared to earlier generations of biofuels.