Title: Bio-char refineries: an accessible approach for the development of biomass-based industry

Authors: Venelin Stamatov, Jose Dilcio Rocha

Addresses: Laboratory for Turbulence Research in Aerospace and Combustion (LTRAC), Department of Mechanical Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia. ' Nucleo Interdisciplinar de Planejamento Energetico, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, NIPE-UNICAMP, Campinas, SP, Brazil

Abstract: Being a by-product of the well-established charcoal industry, slow pyrolysis bio-oil can be an excellent, cost-effective and renewable liquid fuel. However, even in Brazil, a country with a very clean energy profile and large-scale charcoal production, bio-oil is not properly utilised yet. A simple upgrade of traditional methods of charcoal production can significantly increase liquid fuel output. The concept of a bio-char-refinery, introduced in this paper, for production of charcoal, activated carbon, liquid fuel and variety of chemicals presents a possible approach for the development of biomass-based industry. Successful implementation of this concept could provide significant amounts of fuel and chemicals able to enhance economic development and reduce the consumption of petroleum derived products.

Keywords: slow pyrolysis; bio-oil; tar; charcoal; biorefinery; bio-char refineries; liquid fuels; biofuels; woody biomass; bioenergy; renewable energy; activated carbon; production; Brazil.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGEI.2007.013656

International Journal of Global Energy Issues, 2007 Vol.27 No.2, pp.217 - 230

Published online: 10 May 2007 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article