What is biomass to liquids?

Biomass to liquids is a term describing processes for converting biomass into a range of liquid fuels such as gasoline, diesel, and petroleum refinery feedstocks. These processes are usually distinguished from enzymatic/fermentation processes and processes that use only part of a biomass feedstock, such as those typically used to produce ethanol, biobutanol, and biodiesel.

Currently, the major biomass-to-liquids production processes are gas-to-liquids processes, involving conversion of biomass into gas and then into liquids, and pyrolysis, involving decomposition of biomass in the absence of oxygen to produce a liquid oil.

Biomass to Liquids for Alternative Fuels

Biomass-to-liquids processes have the potential to produce a wide range of useful fuels and chemicals. These include transportation fuels such as gasoline, diesel, and ethanol. Producing liquid transportation fuels from fossil fuels such as natural gas and coal using the Fischer-Tropsch process has been demonstrated on a large scale; biomass also could be used as a Fischer-Tropsch feedstock, alone or in conjunction with fossil fuel sources.

One major benefit of biomass-to-liquids fuels is their compatibility with currently existing vehicle technologies and fuel distribution systems. Biomass-derived gasoline and diesel could be transported through existing pipelines, dispensed at existing fueling stations, and used to fuel today's gasoline- and diesel-powered vehicles.