Pyrolysis oil, also known as bio-crude or bio-oil, is a synthetic fuel that can be used as a substitute for petroleum.
It is obtained by heating dried biomass without oxygen in a reactor at around 500°C (900°F) and then cooling it.
Pyrolysis oil contains a complex mixture of oxygenated compounds, which presents both challenges and potential for its utilization.
What is Pyrolysis Oil Used For? 5 Key Applications Explained
1. Fuel Oil in Heavy Industries
One major use of pyrolysis oil is as fuel oil in heavy industries such as construction heating, steel factories, cement factories, and boiler factories.
It can also be used for hotel heating and power generation.
The oil is similar to NO. 2 diesel and can be directly combusted in a boiler or furnace to produce heat.
2. Substitution for Conventional Fuel Oils
Another potential application of pyrolysis oil is as a substitution for conventional fuel oils in stationary applications.
The ASTM D7544 standard regulates the specifications of pyrolysis oil when used as a liquid biofuel.
3. Upgrading in Refinery Infrastructure
There are opportunities to upgrade the pyrolysis oil in refinery infrastructure to a hydrocarbon fuel or use it for the production of chemicals and materials.
4. Wide Range of Industrial Applications
The end-products of the pyrolysis process can have a wide range of applications.
For example, the pyrolysis oil can be used as fuel oil in industries such as steel and iron, boiler factories, ceramics, power or chemical industries, hotels, and restaurants.
It can also be used for generators to produce electricity.
The carbon black produced during pyrolysis can be used for making construction bricks with clay or used as fuel.
The steel wire can be sold directly or recycled to produce new steel products.
5. Alternative Fuel in Diesel Engines and Power Generation
In addition to its use as fuel oil, pyrolysis oil can also be utilized in diesel engines and power generation units in distributed generation, as well as at large power plants as an alternative to fuel oil.
However, there are limitations to the wider industrial application of bio-oils due to fuel quality, high viscosity, low stability and sustainability, and corrosiveness.
Furthermore, pyrolysis yields a char component, which can be used in various industrial processes such as solid fuel in boilers, activated carbon production, and carbon nanotube manufacturing.
The producer gas resulting from pyrolysis can be converted into syngas after treatment, which can be utilized in engines, turbines, industrial incineration plants, and in methanol production.
Plastic pyrolysis oil, a specific type of pyrolysis oil, is widely used in industries such as shipbuilding and can be used as an alternative fuel for factories and ships.
It is also used in cement plants.
Some of the factories that can use plastic pyrolysis oil include cement factories, brick factories, boiler factories, ceramic factories, power plants, and other factories.
Overall, pyrolysis oil has various potential applications in different industries, ranging from fuel oil substitution to the production of chemicals and materials.
Its utilization depends on the quality parameters defined for each specific application.
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Explore the potential applications in refinery infrastructure or chemical production.
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