Biomass-to-liquids

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Bioenergy > Biofuels > Liquid biofuels > Biomass-to-liquids

Biomass-to-liquids (BTL) refers to chemical processes that transform biomass into liquid fuels. This is usually distinguished from processes that use enzymes to create cellulosic ethanol or other fuels directly. While Biomass-to-liquids technologies include pyrolysis, the most common use of the term refers to the combination of gasification, which converts biomass into syngas. and the Fischer-Tropsch process, which can convert syngas into a range of products, including biodiesel, ethanol and others. One important difference from cellulosic ethanol technology is that BTL can potentially produce a range of synthetic liquid fuels and other products. Citation needed

Technology

• Gasification
• Pyrolysis
• Fischer-Tropsch process
• Hybrid hydrogen-carbon process

Environment

The environmental impacts of producing BTL-fuels are dependent on the type of biomass input and the conversion efficiency in the process. Using wastes or forest wood will allow producing BTL-fuels with lower environmental impacts and higher greenhouse gas savings than using energy crops like short-rotation wood or miscanthus (Source: Ökobilanzen zu BTL, LCA of BTL-fuels, LCA of using BTL-fuels in passenger cars and comparison with fossil fuels).

Companies

• Nova Fuels- Develops biomass-to-fuel conversion facilities (that use gasification technology) with joint venture partners. Produces Novahol^TM, a mixture of alcohols which can be used as a fuel or refined to ethanol, biobutanol or other form.

Weblinks

• RENEW: European research project with results for conversion concepts, environmental impacts, costs and potential
• Ökobilanzen zu BTL: Eine ökologische Einschätzung (life cycle assessment of BTL)
• Life cycle assessment of BTL-fuels
• LCA of using BTL-fuels in passenger cars and comparison with fossil fuels

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