Fast pyrolysis bio-oil: Production, quality, and fuel oil use

VTT and its industrial partners have systematically developed fast pyrolysis of biomass for fuel oil production. The work has covered experimental runs to study pyrolysis of industrially relevant feedstocks, recovery of bio-oil, properties, handling, and quality improvement of the bio-oil product. Bio-oil combustion tests in industrial boilers have been carried out. Analytical methods have been tested and further developed for specifications and standardisation. An integrated pyrolysis concept where fast pyrolysis is integrated with a fluidized bed boiler has been developed. This work with techno-economic assessments and market studies have lead the research to the stage where the whole business chain, from feedstock procurement and pre-treatment to bio oil production, transportation, storage and end use is ready for demonstration. Metso has built in 2009 the world's first integrated pyrolysis pilot plant in Finland, in co-operation with UPM, Fortum and VTT. In the concept pyrolysis unit utilizes hot sand from a fluidized bed boiler as heat source. The organic vapours are condensed into bio oil and remaining non-condensable gases, solids, including sand and fuel derived char, are returned to the fluidized bed boiler. In the boiler, non-condensable gases and char are used to produce heat and electricity. The recovered aqueous phase may be used for chemical production. The integration is considered to bring in both technical and economic advantages. Bio oil combustion tests in a heating plant of Fortum designed for natural gas have been started in 2010. In this paper, the work will be described in more detail and the potential of integrated bio oil production and the required utilization chain discussed. In addition, a summary is given related to by-products chemicals, which may be recovered during production.