Fast pyrolysis is a process that consists in heating organic materials in absence of air in order to produce organic vapours that can be condensed to obtain a liquid: the pyrolysis oil. Up to 70 wt.% of the feedstock is converted into this dark-coloured liquid, which contains almost no minerals and sulphur components.

The production of pyrolysis oil offers several advantages:

• Pyrolysis oil is easy to store and to transport. Pyrolysis makes it possible to decouple biomass supply and biofuel demand.
• Application of liquid biofuels such as pyrolysis oil is easier than that of solid biofuels.
• Pyrolysis oil is second-generation biomass technology and does not interfere with the food chain.
• Pyrolysis oil is a greenhouse gas neutral biofuel.

Pyrolysis oil characterized (wood derived):